The Philadelphia 76ers are not the only team in the league that is technically finished making moves this offseason. There are still some ball clubs out there who are situated in the same footing as them, figuring out how to break their respective impasses when it comes to their own restricted free agents.
Case in point? Look no further than the Golden State Warriors, who have yet to come up with a firm resolution to their paralyzing standstill with Jonathan Kuminga. As a result, they have been kept in suspense with their rumored plans in free agency, most prominently that involving former 76ers big man Al Horford.
Horford, who was a vital part of the Celtics in recent years, especially during their championship run, has long been rumored to be eyeing the Warriors as his next team in free agency. That, however, has not yet materialized into an actual deal, primarily due to the Kuminga situation effectively preventing them from signing new players.
Having said that, there is another reason as to hwy Horford to Golden State is not yet a done deal, and if that follows through, the Warriors would be absolutely screwed.
Former 76ers big man Al Horford has the opportunity to do the funniest thing possible
While Horford is widely believed to be a near-lock to sign with the Warriors, he is likewise rumored to be considering retiring instead of joining his fifth team in his long career.
If the five-time All-Star does decide to call it quits on his remarkable career, that would be a major death knell to the Warriors. Their front office was looking forward to the possibility of having Horford as their starting center to ease the load on Draymond Green, who has been starting games for them as their nominal five.
Horford, while already being 39 years old and one of the oldest players in the NBA, is still a very capable big man. He is a legitimate threat from three-point range and a very competent defender who can latch onto multiple players thanks to his smarts.
Even better, he can really pass the rock, making him a perfect fit for Golden State’s pass-happy offense.
Hence, losing out on Horford when they have already been operating under the belief that he will be a part of the team will be huge curveball for the Warriors. But for the 76ers, that is none of their concern, although they can probably find solace in the fact that they could no longer be the only team victimized by the veteran’s maneuverings on and off the court.