The fact that Al Horford accepted a two-year, $11.7MM deal this summer to join the Warriors inspired some jealousy among multiple teams that had hoped to land the veteran center themselves, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“Horford was one of the best signings in the league over the summer, it broke our hearts because we wanted him badly,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “And they got him for $5 million.”
As Anthony Slater of ESPN reports, team sources say that Horford was Golden State’s “absolute 1A” target during the offseason. The team also had interest in Luke Kornet, but he signed a lucrative contract with San Antonio that was out of the Warriors’ price range, so the team was thrilled that the taxpayer mid-level exception was sufficient to land Horford.
“(General manager) Mike (Dunleavy Jr.)’s been looking for a player like him his entire time here,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “Not just a pick-and-pop guy, but a legitimate big, who can make Draymond (Green)‘s job easier, who can make Steph (Curry)‘s job easier. It’s really hard to find those guys.”
Horford is expected to be inactive on Friday on the second end of a back-to-back as part of a plan to limit his workload in his age-39 season, Windhorst notes.
We have more on the Warriors:
- Within an in-depth story about Horford’s arrival and the Warriors’ approach to roster-building, Slater points out that the organization continues to balance a long-term view with a win-now philosophy, as its decision to re-sign Jonathan Kuminga instead of signing-and-trading him showed. “That’s one of the beautiful things about having this organization,” Green said. “We’re not sitting here like, ‘Yo, give away everything because we don’t give a f–k about what this thing looks like in 10 years.’ We do. And so I think it’s only fair to Mike that he’s given a future, too. It’s important to do it the way that we’ve done it. We found a good balance to where we can compete and possibly win now and yet still have that flexibility and resources for the future.”
- As Slater details, that resistance to going all-in was on display last year when Green discouraged the Warriors from giving up a massive package of young players and draft picks in a trade for Jazz star Lauri Markkanen. “I’m a big fan of [Markkanen’s] game,” Green said. “But I think if you want to do something so huge you better be certain that this is THE move. You usually don’t win those things against (Jazz CEO) Danny Ainge. I look at history.”
- Assistant coaches Terry Stotts and Chris DeMarco convinced Kerr to use a bigger lineup of Curry, Green, Horford, Kuminga, and Jimmy Butler down the stretch on Thursday vs. Denver, according to Slater. The group helped erase a fourth-quarter deficit and secure the victory in overtime, posting a +47.1 net rating in eight minutes on the floor together. “Where we going to score?” Kerr said. “That was my biggest concern. Could we execute [offensively]? But [Stotts and DeMarco] reminded me we have Steph and Jimmy, and they’ll find a way to score. … It was really fun to watch a group that’s never played together close a game against one of the best teams in the league.”
“Where we going to score? That was my biggest concern. Could we execute?”
C’mon Kerr…
They knew this lineup existed. Everybody knew. Kerr likes to gaslight. But a wins a win. Love it !!!
Geeeeee I wonder who said you can play Jimmy at 2 and Kuminga at 3 at times too. That’s how you can work him in. When I was asked about Kuminga last year ………. Lonely on the mountain top.
Best thing I’ve seen so far. Is the consistent mins JK is getting. Didn’t think that would ever happen this soon.
Thats a good sign for both sides. Only thing about this lineup. Is there is not a true playmaker. So eventually teams will see that. Still a work in progress. But it’s a good move. Imo Podz as a playmaker/PG is what they need consistently. Curry is not going to do it. So the other guard has to. All in all this was a solid win. A team win imo. Curry is still one of best closers ever.
JK will get more minutes as long as keeps looking for the open man, rebounding, and playing defense. He has had difficulty with those tasks before last season. Didn’t you say he couldn’t do any of that in a Warriors uniform.
I know most of you can’t take the fact of how good I am. So it’s personal for all of you. It’s not for me. I just know comes easy to me. I have never told this board what Kuminga can’t or can’t do. That’s all your insecurities talking. Cause I don’t watch the Warriors. So I’m not like aristotle and the geniuses here. Who can evaluate every team in NBA. I know Kuminga cause I have watched him since he was 17 yrs old. Knicks could have traded up for him. I always saw another Butler with better offense maybe. I said it at draft. Jimmy is one my favorite players ever. Cause he made himself who he is. A true Thibs guy. He personifies what Thibs teaches. So that is a big reason I like JK.
It’s clear to me You and I don’t share the same values of ballers. All you do is complain and cry as a fan. I’m a real fan who knows and understands ballers and balling. We are not the same.
So for you to accuse me of an asinine judgement. Only shows who you are …….. you will never know what I know. Cause its real talent …. swallow that.
What I have said —— it’s best for Kuminga to go somewhere else. Like all of you Warriors crybabies have said. Only I said. He needs to go away so he can reach his peaks. Become the player he can be.
Which is probably still going to happen.
You don’t really think everyone is on the same page now. This year is still a work in progress. Nothing has been resolved yet.
I like how a team of 5 players that are 6’9, 6’7, 6’6, 6’6 and 6’2 is considered ‘big size’ for Kerr, even though it’s normal if not rather undersized in the NBA in 2025.
Things are seen differently in GS-land…
Ain’t that the truth lol …..
The biggest thing about this year’s team is how deep the team is. You still have 3 players that will be 2nd team and not played. You also have players with high NBA IQ playing so there is no fumbling around. How does MDJ keep finding quality players at the end of the draft? They have 4 late second round picks on the team. Big difference I see in Kuminga is not so many issolated ball movement. He is passing much earlier and crash the boards on defense.
said. “Not just a pick-and-pop guy, but a legitimate big, who can make Draymond (Green)‘s job easier, who can make Steph (Curry)‘s job easier. It’s really hard to find those guys.”
Who has been saying this for years. This is what a true big does. Its why I say you still need a rim protector. It only makes the team better. By helping your interior players survive the season better. Balling …. Is a team thing ……
Fact is I don’t remember any team trying to sign Horford. Celtics didn’t offer a contract. Most teams only had the minimum. And you can’t blame him for only wanting a contender. So I don’t get the critique here. Clearly Al wanted to play for Warriors. He’s earned the right to do whatever he wants.
Butler is a better fit for this team the Markkanen. Jazz always overprice their players under Danny. I wouldn’t do trades with him either.