With Al Horford in the fold, Warriors shift focus to Stephen Curry’s closing window
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Eight days before officially signing with Golden State, 39-year-old center Al Horford shared a quiet dinner in San Diego with players he once viewed strictly as rivals. The meeting with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and newly acquired Jimmy Butler set the tone for a partnership aimed at squeezing the most out of Curry’s remaining prime.
A veteran connection
Horford, who calls himself “old-school” and rarely socializes with opponents, said the conversation with Curry was critical. The two veterans, now 37 and 39, spoke in mid-July about the Warriors’ medical and maintenance programs. “Basically the most veteran conversation you could ever have in your life,” Curry said.
The dialogue also drifted to the 2022 NBA Finals, when Horford’s six three-pointers in Game 1 stunned Golden State before Curry’s 43-point Game 4 performance flipped the series and led to his fourth championship. Their shared history helped seal Horford’s decision; no formal recruitment was needed, according to team sources.
Oldest potential starting five
Horford’s arrival means four key Warriors—Curry, Horford, Green and Butler—are at least 35. If Buddy Hield starts beside them, the group would form the oldest starting lineup in league history. The organization’s choice underscores a commitment to the present while still guarding future assets.
Balancing now and later
Golden State retained near-complete control of its first-round picks and refused to trade Jonathan Kuminga despite offers, including one from Brooklyn for Royce O’Neale and second-round selections, sources said. Green noted the front office’s refusal to “give away everything” for immediate help.
In February, Curry, coach Steve Kerr and Green told management not to exhaust the franchise’s draft capital for a marginal upgrade. Green specifically advised against meeting Utah’s full asking price for Lauri Markkanen, citing executive Danny Ainge’s track record.
Last season’s late push
The Warriors opened 2024-25 at 12-3, slumped to 3-12 over the next 15 games and stood 25-26 by mid-February. A trade that sent one future first-round pick—2025—to acquire Butler sparked a 23-8 finish but ended in a second-round loss after Curry strained a hamstring. Curry called that deal “aggressive but reasonable.”
Target No. 1: Horford
General manager Mike Dunleavy entered the summer determined to resolve Kuminga’s contract dispute and add veterans who complement Curry’s pick-and-roll attack. Horford was labeled the club’s “absolute 1A” free-agent target. Dunleavy kept him informed while other moves waited.
Golden State ultimately offered a two-year, $11.6 million contract with a player option for 2026-27 and a 15 percent trade kicker. The second year coincides with the current deals for Curry, Butler and Green, creating a two-season championship window.
Why Boston’s loss became Golden State’s gain
Horford said new collective-bargaining apron rules forced the Celtics to reshape their roster, opening the door for his departure. He added that joining the Warriors would have been impossible had he not won a title with Boston in 2024, the low point of his career having been Golden State’s Game 6 clincher on the TD Garden floor two years earlier.
Roster roundup
Besides Horford, the Warriors added De’Anthony Melton and Seth Curry. They also explored signing Luke Kornet, but the 7-foot-2 center joined San Antonio on a richer deal.
Kerr called Horford “a legitimate big who can make Draymond’s job easier, who can make Steph’s job easier,” something he said Dunleavy had sought “his entire time here.”
Looking ahead
Even as ownership weighs future payroll and draft flexibility, Curry, Butler, Green and Horford believe they have a viable two-year shot. “It’s a privilege to have this opportunity and to be here,” Horford said. “There’s a lot that comes with it, but I’m pretty excited.”
Source: ESPN
