Celtics Nation, brace yourselves for a challenging season! The Boston Celtics’ frontcourt is in disarray after a tumultuous offseason that saw Kristaps Porzingis traded, Luke Kornet signing with San Antonio, and Al Horford still unsigned as he eyes a championship contender. With no clear starting center and Jayson Tatum sidelined by an Achilles injury, the Celtics face an uphill battle in 2025-26. Will Horford, a fan-favorite and 2024 champion, return to Boston, or is his future with the Golden State Warriors? Let’s dive into the roster shake-up, Horford’s free agency saga, and what it means for the Celtics’ title hopes.
A Depleted Frontcourt: The Offseason Fallout
The Celtics’ center position, once a strength, is now a glaring weakness. Kristaps Porzingis, a key starter in their 2024 championship run, was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in June 2025 to shed his $30.7 million salary, per ESPN, as Boston grappled with a projected $238 million luxury tax bill. Luke Kornet, a reliable backup who averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 2024-25, signed a four-year, $41 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, leaving Boston due to financial constraints. The team’s current center options—Neemias Queta, Luka Garza, Chris Boucher, and rookie Amari Williams—are unproven or career backups, with none having started more than 23 games in a season.
This turnover stems from Boston’s need to navigate the NBA’s second apron restrictions, which limit roster flexibility for high-spending teams. Trading Porzingis and letting Kornet walk helped Boston dip below the second apron, saving nearly $150 million in taxes, per Yahoo Sports. However, the moves gutted their frontcourt depth, leaving coach Joe Mazzulla with a patchwork rotation. With Tatum expected to miss most or all of 2025-26 due to his Achilles injury, the Celtics’ lack of a dominant center could doom their playoff hopes, especially after a 4-2 loss to the Knicks in last year’s playoffs.
Al Horford’s Free Agency Limbo
Al Horford, the lone unsigned former Celtics center, remains a free agent as of September 17, 2025, caught in a waiting game tied to the Golden State Warriors’ negotiations with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. Celtics insider Sam Esfandari of CLNS reports that the Warriors, a rumored destination for Horford, are prioritizing Kuminga’s contract to manage their salary cap before offering Horford the taxpayer midlevel exception (approximately $5.7 million). With Kuminga’s talks stalled—reports suggest he may accept a $6.7 million qualifying offer, per Bleacher Report—the Warriors’ delay has left Horford in limbo.
At 39, Horford is likely in his final NBA season, per Fastbreak on SI, making his next move critical. After 18 years and a 2024 championship with Boston, he wants to join a contender, a key reason he’s unlikely to return to a Celtics team projected to struggle without Tatum. Last season, Horford averaged 9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 41.1% three-point shooting, proving he’s still a valuable bench player with elite defense and leadership. His ability to hit open threes (39th in the NBA for three-point percentage among bigs) and anchor the paint makes him a perfect fit for Golden State’s system alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Can Boston Bring Horford Back?
Despite Horford’s desire for a contender, the Celtics haven’t given up hope of re-signing him. President of basketball operations Brad Stevens called retaining Horford and Kornet a top priority, per NBC Sports Boston, citing his irreplaceable locker room presence and on-court versatility. Teammates like Payton Pritchard have echoed this, with Pritchard stating, “We definitely need him back.” Boston holds Horford’s Bird Rights, allowing them to offer a multi-year deal up to the max, but their $15 million over-the-luxury-tax status limits flexibility.
However, re-signing Horford is a long shot. His $9.5 million salary last season would push Boston closer to the second apron, triggering roster-building restrictions like losing the midlevel exception and trade aggregation rights. Horford’s reported preference for a contender, combined with the Warriors’ interest, makes Golden State the frontrunner. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus predicts Horford will sign a two-year deal with the Warriors, leveraging their championship pedigree despite their own cap challenges. Boston’s best hope may be Horford accepting a veteran-minimum deal, but his market—teams like the Bucks and Jazz have shown interest in similar bigs—suggests he’ll command more.
The Warriors’ Appeal and Horford’s Legacy
Golden State sees Horford as a cost-effective veteran to bolster their bench, especially after losing Kevon Looney to New Orleans. His floor-spacing and defensive IQ would complement Curry’s shooting and Green’s playmaking, potentially forming a playoff-caliber second unit with Trayce Jackson-Davis. Horford’s championship experience—Boston’s 2024 title was his first after 17 seasons—makes him a cultural fit for a Warriors team aiming to maximize Curry’s twilight years.
For Horford, a move to Golden State could cap a storied career that includes five All-Star nods and a reputation as one of the NBA’s classiest leaders. In Boston, he was beloved for his clutch shooting (e.g., a 6-of-8 three-point performance in the 2024 Finals) and mentorship of younger players like Tatum. Fans on X have expressed mixed emotions, with some calling his potential Warriors move “heartbreaking” but wishing him well, while others urge Boston to “find a way” to keep him.
The Celtics’ Path Forward
Without Horford, Boston’s center rotation relies on untested talent. Neemias Queta, praised by Derrick White for his growth, is the leading candidate to start, but his lack of three-point shooting and inconsistent play raise concerns. Luka Garza ($5.5 million, two years) and Chris Boucher (veteran minimum) offer depth, but neither matches Horford’s two-way impact. Rookie Amari Williams, a two-way contract player, is a developmental project. The Celtics could pursue a trade—Brooklyn’s Day’Ron Sharpe was suggested by FanSided for his rebounding prowess—but their limited assets and cap constraints make it tough.
Jaylen Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, will shoulder the offensive load, with Derrick White and Payton Pritchard stepping up in the backcourt. However, without a reliable center, Boston’s defense (5th in 2024-25, 108.6 rating) and rebounding (13th, 46.3 per game) could slip, kindling fears of a sub-.500 season. Fans on X are buzzing about the “bleak” frontcourt, with some calling for Stevens to make a bold move before the February 2026 trade deadline.
A Crossroads for Celtics and Horford
The Boston Celtics face a pivotal moment as their center depth crumbles and Al Horford’s future hangs in the balance. Trading Porzingis and losing Kornet were necessary to escape the NBA’s punitive tax rules, but the cost is a roster ill-equipped to contend without Tatum. Horford’s potential move to the Warriors could close a legendary chapter in Boston, leaving fans nostalgic for his leadership and clutch plays. Celtics Nation, can Stevens pull off a miracle to bring Horford back, or is it time to embrace the youth movement?