The Golden State Warriors are signing veteran massive man Al Horford to a multi-year deal, in response to ESPN. Horford is the most recent casualty of the second apron for the Boston Celtics, who traded starters Kristaps Porziņģis and Jrue Vacation and misplaced key reserve Luke Kornet early in free company as a part of the staff’s efforts to shed payroll this summer season. Boston’s loss is Golden State’s achieve, nonetheless, because the Warriors are including precisely the kind of massive man they should compete for the 2026 championship.
The Warriors play a reasonably particular fashion on each ends of the ground that many gamers wrestle to suit inside. They change so much defensively, forcing massive males to protect the perimeter. They move greater than any staff within the league and depend on their gamers to make good, fast choices. Most significantly, for a middle a minimum of, they play two gamers that are not prolific 3-point shooters in Draymond Inexperienced and Jimmy Butler, so having the ability to shoot 3s at some other place is important. Horford checks each field.
Even in his age-38 season in Boston a 12 months in the past, Horford nonetheless performed at a borderline All-Protection degree. He is shot over 39% from 3-point vary since returning to Boston in 2022. At his peak he averaged as many as 5 assists per sport, and whereas he will not have the ball sufficient to try this for the Warriors, his passing and basketball IQ can be very welcome matches. Whereas Golden State will miss dynasty mainstay Kevon Looney, who signed with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, Horford is a significant improve for a Warriors staff loading as much as win proper now.
As for the Celtics, for now, they’re with no dependable, starting-caliber middle. Bench gamers Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman stay on the roster, they usually added Minnesota reserve Luka Garza. However in the mean time their middle slot stays one of many main questions of the offseason. There was reporting suggesting that they may attempt to redirect Anfernee Simons, whom they acquired within the Vacation commerce, and that might maybe deliver them a giant man. In any other case, with restricted spending cash and a quickly dwindling pool of free brokers, the Celtics may be left standing when the music begins.
Horford might not retire in Boston, however he’ll nonetheless be revered as a beloved pillar of this period of Celtics basketball. He performed seven seasons in Boston throughout two stints and was a key a part of their 2024 championship staff. In addition to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, he could also be an important Celtic of the post-Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett period. He can be missed in Boston, however an opportunity to compete for a championship with Golden State was just too alluring to move up.
