The Golden State Warriors don’t want the Jonathan Kuminga saga to affect the rest of their offseason.
The organization can’t sign their ideal free agent targets until they find a common ground with the NBA champion forward.
However, regarding positive news, the organization ‘most likely’ has a verbal agreement in place with a 6-foot-9 center who’s perceived as Kevon Looney’s ideal replacement in the Bay (Looney signed with the New Orleans Pelicans this summer).
“The Warriors most likely have verbal agreements in place with free agents Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, and Gary Payton II,” NBA analyst Jake Weinbach reported last Friday.
“However, these potential signings wouldn’t become official until the Jonathan Kuminga situation is resolved since Golden State’s spending flexibility hinges on the NBA’s hard cap triggers of the respective aprons.”
Somehow, Horford continues to be an impactful frontcourt asset in his late 30s.
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Although the former Atlanta Hawks star’s best days are behind him, he can still operate as a high-impact stretch five who isn’t injury-prone despite being one of the oldest players in the league.
Horford, who won a title with the Celtics in 2024, averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season, shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from downtown in 60 games (he’s appeared in at least 60 regular-season contests during 11 of his last 13 campaigns).
With Horford and Quentin Post, the Warriors’ 7-foot center, both shooting at least 36% from three-point land (Post connected on 40.8% of his triples last year), the Dubs’ pick-and-pop/pitch-back game would be dangerous in Golden State’s long-range craving offense.
Regarding Looney replacements, Horford is likely the most viable option available on the market, making it logical for the Warriors to ink a deal with him before another franchise scoops him up.
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