Al Horford’s future with the Boston Celtics could be coming to an end soon. Horford is set to become an unrestricted free agent on Monday evening, opening the door for the veteran big man to find himself a new NBA home.
While there hasn’t been a strong indication one way or another, the latest update from Adam Himmelsbach of “The Boston Globe” casts doubt on the idea of Horford being back with Boston next season.
“I’m told Al Horford continues to mull potential options for next season and at the moment appears unlikely to have a final decision on the first day of free agency tomorrow,” Himmelsbach shared in a post to X on Sunday.
I’m told Al Horford continues to mull potential options for next season and at the moment appears unlikely to have a final decision on the first day of free agency tomorrow.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) June 29, 2025
A new deal for Horford felt like a foregone conclusion heading into the 2024-25 season. Boston was coming off of its 18th NBA Championship with hopes of raising a 19th banner this spring. Of course, those hopes fizzled out in the second round of the playoffs, after the Cs coughed up consecutive 20-point leads to the New York Knicks and eventually lost Jayson Tatum to a ruptured Achilles.
Now, the feeling around the team is much different with Tatum presumably sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 campaign. Plus, Brad Stevens and the front office have already made a pair of cost-cutting moves, trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, to lower the Celtics’ payroll and get them below the NBA’s second-apron line.
Horford is a part of Brad Stevens' future plans for the Celtics
Even with the whirlwind of change going on in Boston, Stevens hopes that Horford (and Luke Kornet) can be constants within the organization.
"As you look at the rest of the team and what we’re trying to do, there is no question our priorities would be to bring Al and Luke back,” Stevens told reporters at his Wednesday availability. "Those guys are huge parts of this organization."
Not only are they huge parts of the organization, but they’re basically the entire center rotation with Porzingis now gone. Without Horford and Kornet, Boston would be left with Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman Sr., and second-round pick Amari Williams filling out their depth chart at the center spot.
"They’re going to have, I’m sure, plenty of options all over the place, and that’s well-deserved, but I think that would be a priority," Stevens continued. "At the same time, I don’t want to put pressure on them. It’s their call, ultimately. But, yeah, we would love to have those guys back.”
Horford’s leadership and significant playoff experience would be valuable to any team looking to compete for a championship. According to a recent report from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, that’s exactly what the market for Horford is expected to be in free agency.
"Predominantly, high-level playoff contenders are monitoring Horford to see if he’d leave Boston, with the Celtics expected to take a step back without Tatum next season and in a financial crunch regarding their salary books."
If Horford really has played his final game as a Celtic, then it marks the end of a terrific career in Boston. The four-time All-Star spent a total of seven seasons with the Cs, across two different stints. He was the first major free agent to sign with Boston in years when he did so in 2016. His decision to do so motivated other talented players to be interested in the city as a destination as he helped usher in a successful era of Celtics basketball.