The Celtics have lost several key players from their 2024 championship core this offseason.
Al Horford was expected to join the list of players who were traded/signed elsewhere, but recently was predicted to possibly return to Boston, after it seemed unlikely for weeks.
Could Al Horford return to the Celtics?
NBA analyst Adam Kaufman shared on X that "As time passes, a return to Boston feels more realistic (my opinion), so long as the Celtics can shed the cap space."
Kaufman listed the Celtics, Warriors, Nuggets and retirement as the options left on the table for Horford.
Over the past few days, reports made it appear that the Warriors were the likely destination for Horford, but a lot of time has passed since the start of free agency, with Horford appearing to be still weighing his options.
The state of the Celtics' roster plays its part, and a Horford return could maybe pick up steam if the Celtics were able to ink free agent Damian Lillard to a deal.
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The reality is Horford probably doesn't want to waste away the remaining limited time he has left in the NBA, but at the same time, it's not exactly convenient to move him and his family across the country just for a short amount of time.
If the Celtics can make themselves appear as a competitive team going into next season, it could strengthen their case to bring back Horford if it makes sense.
There are no definitive reports pointing towards what the final decision will be, but as time passes, more speculation on alternative options will increase.
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