Veteran big man Al Horford could be on the move this offseason, with the New York Knicks emerging as a potential destination.
On the latest episode of ESPN’s Hoop Collective podcast, senior reporter Tim Bontemps said Horford may be unlikely to return to the Boston Celtics given their evolving roster concerns following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury.
“Al Horford is a free agent,” Bontemps noted, via Yahoo Sports. “I don’t think at this point it makes a lot of sense for … Horford to be back in Boston.”
The 38-year-old completed the final season of a two-year, $19.5 million deal and played a key role off the bench for Boston in 2024–25, averaging 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 60 regular season appearances.
In the playoffs, Horford started nine of 11 games and boosted his shooting efficiency, hitting 47.2% from the field and 40% from three.
Boston entered the postseason as the East’s No. 2 seed but fell to the Knicks in six games during the conference semifinals after losing Tatum to a season-ending injury.
With the Celtics’ short-term championship window now uncertain, speculation has turned to Horford’s future, especially given his longstanding ties to Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns.
“Horford is a longtime friend of [Towns] and has played with him with the Dominican National team for a long time,” Bontemps added, calling Horford an “unbelievable fit” for New York.
The Knicks ended their 2024–25 campaign with their best playoff showing in decades, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Though no formal talks have been reported, New York’s recent playoff success and Towns’ presence could make the Knicks a serious landing spot.
As free agency approaches, Boston’s plans for its aging core remain fluid, and Horford may find a clearer role on a team looking to build on recent momentum.
