The Golden State Warriors have received some positive news on their top remaining free agent prospect.
Golden State’s offseason has essentially been paused as it deals with an extended negotiation between its front office and restricted free agent power forward Jonathan Kuminga.
For now, no deal has presented itself, as Kuminga likely pines for a sign-and-trade and the Warriors seem nonplussed about the latest proposed return assets.
Regardless, however, their top free agent prospect appears to be more available now than he had been until recently.
Veteran power forward/center Chris Boucher’s agent, Sam Permut of Roc Nation, informed Shams Charania of ESPN that the 6-foot-9 big man had inked a one-season, $3.3 million to ditch the Toronto Raptors for the Boston Celtics.
Free agent forward Chris Boucher has agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Boston Celtics, agent Sam Permut of Roc Nation tells ESPN. Boucher lands a guaranteed deal with the Celtics and is expected to have a significant role in the frontcourt. pic.twitter.com/H13dHVyuu8
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2025
Boucher’s signing seems to signal that Boston is really, truly moving on from Al Horford.
The 6-foot-9 Florida product has been lingering in free agency for an extended period of time, with word swirling that he intends to sign with the Warriors.
Horford proved inarguably to be a more critical component of the Celtics’ two playoff runs alongside nominal starting center Kristaps Porzingis, who was traded to the Atlanta Hawks earlier this summer. Porzingis struggled through health problems during both playoff pushes, and Horford was healthier and more available in each instance.
At 39, Horford would hardly help the Warriors’ age problem (more on that in a minute), but he’s the best free agent center on the market — and he was before Boucher joined his old team, too.
Since drafting Stephen Curry in 2009, Golden State has never employed a traditionally-sized starting center who can truly spread the floor. Occasionally, 6-foot-11 superstar forward Kevin Durant was shifted into that role, but he was never counted upon to do that all the time.
Horford will give the Warriors’ offense a fascinating dimensionality.
A career 37.7 percent 3-point shooter, Horford made 36.3 percent of his 5.2 treys in 2024-25 with Boston. He averaged 9.0 points on .423/.363/.895 shooting splits, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.9 blocks and 0.6 steals in 27.7 minutes per.
Can a starting lineup that includes the 39-year-old Horford, the 37-year-old Curry, the soon-to-be-36-year-old Jimmy Butler, and the 35-year-old Draymond Green actually be healthy enough throughout the 2026 playoffs (when Curry will be 38 and Butler and Green will be 36) to win a fifth title for the franchise since 2015?
It seems unlikely, especially against generally younger, deeper Western Conference teams like the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant’s Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets. Still, with some health luck, all those players have plenty left in the tank.
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