After making a big splash at the trade deadline last year, it's been a very quiet summer for the Golden State Warriors. Despite not making any moves yet, they still remain linked to one of the more interesting names left on the market.
Amid the departure of Kevon Looney, the Warriors find themselves with a void to fill in the frontcourt. However, they've been dealing with an ongoing roadblock in the form of Jonathan Kuminga. With his future still up in the air, Golden State doesn't know what kind of financial flexibility it'll have to fill out the rest of the roster. Because of this, they've been stuck in limbo with multiple players they are eager to get under contract.
Seeing that he hasn't signed a deal elsewhere yet, one former champion seems to be okay waiting for the Warriors to hash things out before making a decision on his future.
Al Horford projected to sign multi-year deal with the Warriors
In a recent column for Bleacher Report, Dan Favale broke down predictions for some of the NBA's top free agents. Among the players he discussed was Al Horford. Although the veteran big man has tossed around the idea of retiring, Favale expects him to come to terms on a two-year deal with Golden State.
Depending on how the JK soap opera plays out, the Warriors could need to change up their offer.
If Kuminga proves to be ultra-expensive, it might leave them with only the veteran's minimum to dangle. If he leaves or gets moved in a sign-and-trade, they could technically access the entire non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
Count on the middle ground winning out again, and the 39-year-old joining Golden State for the taxpayer's mid-level exception.
Although he turned 39 earlier this summer, Horford has still proven to be a reliable piece in the NBA. Last season for the Celtics, he averaged 9.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 2.1 APG while shooting 36% from beyond the arc.
At this late stage of his career, Horford and the Warriors are a perfect match on a short-term deal. Golden State brings in another quality veteran to pair with their young core, and he matches their window to compete. For Horford, it's a final opportunity to compete for a championship before saying farewell to his playing days.