The Golden State Warriors have struggled to complete signings in the offseason, primarily because of their ongoing contract negotiations with their young star Jonathan Kuminga. While this has created some complications, the Dubs are still expected to successfully sign Al Horford, per Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale.
Favale predicted that the Warriors would present Horford with a two-year, $11.7 million deal. He wrote:
“Al Horford is most likely bound for the Golden State Warriors. Like a handful of others, he’s just waiting on the Jonathan Kuminga situation (debacle?) to resolve itself.”
He added that the situation with Kuminga would be the deciding factor on this front. If the Warriors offer a deal that aligns with his demands, they may only be able to acquire Horford at the veteran’s minimum. However, if the Dubs agree to trade the forward, they may have more leeway to extend a better deal to the five-time All-Star.
“Count on the middle ground winning out again, and the 39-year-old joining Golden State for the taxpayer’s mid-level exception,” Favale continued. “Prediction: Al Horford signs with the Warriors for two years and $11.7 million, with a player option for 2026-27.”
In light of the recent halt in communications between Kuminga and the Warriors, it doesn’t seem like the franchise will be able to resolve this situation any time soon. Additionally, when factoring in Joe Lacob’s commitment to retaining the 22-year-old, it appears that there will be some obstacles for facilitating trades as well.
Amidst this confusion, Horford and the other key free agent targets have remained quite patient. The former Celtics big man and Gary Payton II have been presented as priority signings, a Warriors star Stephen Curry even urged the franchise to offer a Payton II a two-year deal.
Acquiring Horford could be considered their most important move this offseason. When examining their roster, the Dubs are in dire need of a capable big man.
Although their frontcourt lineup features young centers such as Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis, given the team’s makeup, it is evident that they need someone with more experience. Horford is the ideal veteran signing for the team in this regard.
Even at 39 years old, the five-time All-Star has proven himself to be a productive player on the roster. Last season, Horford played a key role as the primary big man off the bench for the Boston Celtics. During the regular season, he recorded an average of 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game, while shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.
Horford’s versatile offensive skills, high basketball IQ, and defensive ability make him an extremely competent presence on the floor. While presenting himself as a solid rebounding presence to shore up the Warriors’ efforts on the glass, he is also a capable floor-spacing big man, which would allow players such as Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry to attack the basket more effectively.
On the defensive end, Horford would be the ideal partner for Draymond Green. The 39-year-old often leverages his experience and tactical intellect to overcome the differences in athletic ability. Although his rim protection skills may not be on par with some of the other big men in the league, he is still an extremely savvy defender.
Additionally, the big man is also a former NBA champion. This experience will prove to be crucial as the Dubs hope to mount a title charge this upcoming season.
There appears to be a verbal agreement in place between the Warriors and Horford, which is reassuring in light of the Kuminga offseason saga. While acquiring the 39-year-old would undoubtedly address their biggest concerns, the Dubs would need to manage his workload in the regular season.
Horford played in 60 regular season games last season while averaging 27.7 minutes per game. When considering how much more demanding the Warriors’ motion offense is, it is unlikely that the veteran will be able to sustain his performance over the course of the season.
The Dubs could approach this in two ways. They could choose to make more signings in order to support the five-time All-Star or they could have him play the role of a mentor to hasten the development of players such as Post and Jackson-Davis.
Acquiring Horford is only one of the many steps in the Warriors’ offseason plans. With the need to improve their roster strength dramatically, the Dubs need to begin by resolving the Kuminga situation as soon as possible.
