Al Horford won’t play basketball forever. The Boston Celtics have been blessed with the everlasting presence of quality center play because of Horford’s seemingly endless reign as one of the best role players in the NBA. His three-point shooting, post defense, and off-the-court leadership have made him one of the most indispensable players in the Celtics organization.
But at 38 years old, Horford only has a finite number of years remaining in the NBA. He’s already all but confirmed that he plans on coming back next season, but past that, his future is completely unknown. And regardless, the Celtics should still be aiming to supplement his play with quality young pieces who could eventually help replace him.
One of those guys just entered the 2025 NBA Draft.
Alex Condon could help be Celtics Al Horford replacement
According to Jonathan Givony of ESPN, Florida big man Alex Condon has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft (while still maintaining his NCAA eligibility).
Condon just wrapped up his sophomore season with the Gators, capping it off with a National Championship—one that Horford himself was in the building to watch unfold.
In his second season, the 20-year-old Australian big man emerged as an every-night starter for Florida, playing 24.9 minutes per contest. He averaged 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in the regular season.
"This was a surreal season," Condon said via Givony. "There was so much depth on this team, and we all played unselfishly. A lot of guys stepped up in big moments. We had a great team, and that's the reason we won the championship."
Ranked 33rd in Kevin O’Connor’s big board on Yahoo Sports, Condon is a very solid defender who also has a knack for passing the ball. O’Connor likens him to Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein, which would be a very solid ceiling, should Condon reach his full potential.
If he wants to reach that height, Condon would have to put on some size, however. At just 6-foot-11 and 230 lbs, he could get pushed around a bit. But that’s something he can work on once he gets to the NBA level.
Considering Horford is already (all but) confirmed to be coming back to Boston next season, the Celtics don’t need to stress too much about immediate relief at the center position, especially if Kristaps Porzingis isn’t traded and they manage to re-sign Luke Kornet.
However, at just 20 years old, Condon could be the perfect project piece for the Celtics and a potential Horford replacement down the line.