New Addition to the Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have just made a significant move in the offseason, welcoming free agent center Al Horford with a multi-year deal, as reported by Shams Charania from ESPN on Sunday.

A seasoned player and five-time All-Star, Horford has dedicated seven of the last nine seasons to the Boston Celtics, where he played a pivotal role in their NBA Championship win for the 2023-24 season.

At 39, Horford is gearing up for his 19th season, aiming to support the veteran-heavy roster which includes Stephen Curry, who’s 37, Jimmy Butler, 36, and Draymond Green, 35.

Standing at 6-foot-9, Horford became a target for Golden State after the team’s long-time center, Kevon Looney, departed for the Pelicans.

ESPN notes that Horford was among the few remaining free agents as the Warriors navigated contract talks with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga faces the choice of signing a multi-year deal worth around $50 million or opting for a one-year qualifying offer of about $7.9 million.

On Sunday, Horford verbally agreed to join the Warriors, while the two sides are finalizing the financial aspects of the contract.

Last season, Horford played in 60 games, starting 42 of them, and averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. Notably, he maintained a shooting percentage of 36.3% from beyond the arc, consistently making over 100 three-pointers each of the past three seasons.