The Boston Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals in 2022. They might lose again to the Warriors, this time, in the NBA Free Agency.
According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, the Warriors are eyeing to lure one of the Celtics’ key free agents.
“League sources say veteran center Al Horford will be a top target for Golden State,” Stein and Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter a few hours before NBA Free Agency opens on June 30.
The Warriors, who are in a win-now mode once again, are looking to add a stretch center to bolster their core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
Horford could add his championship pedigree to that core for a better shot at the loaded Western Conference.
The 39-year-old center has been a long-time pillar for the Celtics, spending seven of his last nine seasons with the franchise.
Horford was still solid last season despite his age, averaging 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 36.3% from the 3-point line last season. He played a pivotal role in the Celtics’ championship run during the 2023-24 season that cemented them as the winningest franchise in NBA history.
Celtics Want Al Horford Back
Celtics president Brad Stevens made it clear they want Horford, alongside reserve center Luke Kornet, back.
“I think the biggest thing is, as you look at the rest of the team and what we’re trying to do, there’s no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back,” Stevens told reporters.
Both centers are unrestricted free agents.
An avenue that the Celtics are looking at to keep their centers is to offload Anfernee Simons, their recent acquisition from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Holiday trade, per Jay King of The Athletic.
“Looking to continue shedding salary, the Celtics have explored the idea of flipping Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract, according to league sources. In such a move, they would be aiming to accomplish two organizational directives Brad Stevens emphasized after the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday: regaining more roster flexibility and setting up a path to retain free agents Luke Kornet and Al Horford,” King wrote.
The Celtics are currently $15 million above the luxury tax threshold. Offloading Simons’ $27.7 million expiring salary could open up the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception that could be enough to keep both of their remaining centers.
Luke Kornet Also In Demand
Kornet is drawing interest from the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers, according to Fischer and Stein in separate previous reporting.
Kornet has the enviable option to choose who to back up next season: Victor Wembanyama or Ivica Zubac?
But the best option could be to return to Boston, where he is expected to play a larger role following the departure of Kristaps Porzingis.
However, the Celtics are still crunching numbers while the Spurs and the Clippers have the money to give Kornet the largest contract of his career.
“The Celtics’ 29-year-old big man, who has yet to earn north of $3 million in any single season in his eight-year NBA career, appears to have a real shot to cash out in this summer’s midlevel market,” Fischer wrote.
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