The Boston Celtics said goodbye to a few key players from their 2024 championship run this offseason, including Al Horford, who signed a two-year, $11.7 million contract with the Warriors as a free agent. He was Golden State's prized free agency signing, giving the team a needed stretch five and rim protector, but so far this season, Horford hasn't lived up to expectations. It's to the point where a trade could happen.
Horford has played only 13 of the Warriors' 28 games. He has been out the past couple of weeks due to sciatica, and on Thursday, Nick Friedell of The Athletic reported that Horford said he would "probably" be out for another week (subscription required). He is doing more in practice now, which is a good sign for Golden State, but this isn't the kind of position the organization thought it'd be in with him.
The Warriors knew that Horford, who is 39, wouldn't play in both games of a back-to-back. While that is a challenge in itself to navigate, injuries have prevented the big man from getting into a rhythm with his new team. He's averaging 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, shooting 29.8% from three.
Golden State is 13-15, ninth in the West. The Warriors have dealt with injuries, as Steph Curry missed several games with a quad injury, but where they sit now isn't where they want to be. Anything less than a championship would be disappointing, so with the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaching, the front office is looking at ways to upgrade the roster. A deal could involve ending Horford's time in San Francisco much earlier than anyone expected.
Former Celtics center Al Horford has struggled with the Warriors
Although Horford signed over the offseason, since that didn't happen until Oct. 1 due to the Jonathan Kuminga saga, he isn't eligible to be traded until Jan. 1. That leaves the front office with roughly four weeks to trade Horford, if they so desire.
Golden State understood Horford's limitations when the organization signed him, but he had a productive 2024-25 season in Boston. Even with tempered expectations given his age, his play has been a major letdown.
The Warriors hoped they wouldn't be in a position to monitor the center trade market before the deadline, but they are. They may not trade Horford, but they could bring in another player to fill the void that he has failed to fill himself. For his sake, maybe he'll be able to turn things around and help put Golden State in a position to make a championship run, but the truth is that the team's issues run deeper than Horford.
Still, hopefully, Al is able to find his way in The Bay.