Horford s goal this summer: If you leave the Celtics, the Warriors will be the first choice

Leaving the Boston Celtics was not easy for El Horford. He has played for the Celtics for seven of the past nine seasons and won his first NBA championship in 2024 with the team.

But when considering the future this summer, Horford realized that two things were very clear: he would not retire; if he wanted to leave the Celtics, joining the Warriors was the best choice. "It's a great opportunity to compete and win at a high level. When I think of the Warriors, I think of Curry, Green, Cole, and Butler. Especially his performance after being traded to the Warriors last season and how the team plays. It's not easy to leave Boston, but if you want to choose a place, it's here, so I took the opportunity without hesitation," Horford said.

Horford's departure from Boston was an unlikely event at the end of last season's regular season. He is loved by fans and the team, and his family is often with the team. The only question is how long he can play. But the situation suddenly changed in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals, with Tatum suffering from a tear of right Achilles tendon, which made the Celtics lose their core for most of the 2025-26 season, and even the entire season. What followed was that Holiday and Porzingis were traded, Horford and Connet left the team freely, and the Celtics were completely demolished and rebuilt due to financial pressure.

After Horford left the Celtics, the Warriors immediately became his ideal next home. In Kerr's system, he can not only open the game as a space center, but also cooperate with Curry, Green and Butler to use passes and defense to connect the entire team. Cole praised: "What we got is not just a No. 5 position that can shoot, that is Horford. He can catch rebounds, defend and pass the ball. From today's training, you can see that he can seamlessly blend with any lineup. Whether it is matched with Green, Jackson Davis, or playing alone in the center, or even allowing the whole team to form a five-square-square lineup, his value can be immediately revealed."

During the Celtics' era, Horford was already in his twilight years of his career, but he is still a key link in the lineup. Considering his age and physical wear, his playing time has always been strictly controlled, and he has avoided back-to-back games for a long time. As for whether this will continue this season, neither Horford nor Cole made a clear statement, but said that it would be handed over to the medical team for evaluation.

Horford signed a two-year, $12 million mini middle class contract, and the second year is the player option. His signing with several other new players was once hindered by Kumingga's negotiations, and Horford also bluntly stated that the process was a bit strange. But as Kumingga and the Warriors reached an agreement, the veteran successfully signed the name on the contract.

"It's a very special offseason and I can just wait and see how things go. All I can do is train with all my strength and make sure I'm in the best shape at the start of the season," Horford said.

(text/Thai Fu)