NBA training camps open across the league next week, but one member of the 2024-25 Boston Celtics' roster remains in limbo as he waits to see how other balls fall before his opportunity to sign will come.
The issue for veteran big man Al Horford isn't a lack of interest. It is the hoops that must be jumped through first before the Golden State Warriors can sign him using the mid-level exception. The one thing we do know for certain is that the reason for the hold-up, Jonathan Kuminga's reluctance to sign an extension with Golden State, will be solved no later than Oct. 1, as that is the deadline Kuminga has to sign his qualifying offer for the 2025-26 season.
Kuminga Negotiations Preventing Al Horford from Signing New Contract
The situation in San Francisco is not that difficult to explain. The Warriors want nothing to do with paying Kuminga big money on an extension. Steve Kerr made this clear last season when discussing Kuminga's fit within the constructs of the team. Golden State's front office has drawn a hard line in the sand with the offers they've made to Kuminga thus far.
The Warriors do not want to allow the former lottery pick to walk as an unrestricted free agent next summer if he were to sign the qualifying offer, but, at the same time, the reasons for why they aren't enthralled by the idea of signing Kuminga to a long-term extension are apparent as well.
All of this leaves the former Celtics star sitting at home and waiting for what comes next. Given that Horford is the consummate professional, there shouldn't be any doubts that he has kept himself in shape and will be ready to hop on the court for a team, such as Golden State, once a contract is extended his way and signed.
After waiting nearly three full months for this particular run through free agency to come to a conclusion, Horford should be able to manage waiting one more week before the ball inevitably starts moving, and his representation can do more than simply communicate with teams that have interest in adding the veteran.
While he may not be the All-Star he once was, Horford is still very capable of contributing to a contender. That is a large reason why the Warriors have had interest in him throughout this process. After appearing in 60 games for Boston this past season, and averaging 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 27.6 minutes per contest, Horford would provide Golden State with a meaningful boost off the bench, as well as another veteran presence in the locker room.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. and the Warriors' front office still have work left to do on that front to make it so Horford can sign a deal with Golden State. Fortunately, that clock is ticking on Kuminga, and that means he will have to make a decision, one way or another, in the coming days.