The Golden State Warriors’ reported interest in veteran big man Al Horford has stirred excitement among fans, but the potential deal appears to be in a holding pattern. And the reason might have more to do with Jonathan Kuminga than Horford himself.
While early free agency reports suggested that Horford was headed to the Bay Area, the 38-year-old remains unsigned as July approaches. That silence has prompted speculation about his future — and whether retirement might still be on the table. But according to Bay Area radio host Marc Grandi, Warriors fans may not need to panic just yet.
Grandi reports that Horford to Golden State is still expected to happen, but negotiations have been slowed by the unresolved free agency status of Jonathan Kuminga. The 21-year-old forward is a restricted free agent and is currently exploring his value on the market.
According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, the situation between Kuminga and the Warriors has dragged on with little momentum. A short-term agreement remains a strong possibility, particularly if Golden State wants to maximize Kuminga’s value in a potential trade later this year.
“Plenty of time has passed, and there’s still no resolution to the Kuminga-Warriors standoff,” Siegel reported. “If it continues like this, a short-term deal could be the most realistic path forward. That would allow the Warriors to fully utilize his new contract’s value in trade discussions starting in December — instead of being limited to just 50 percent value in current sign-and-trade scenarios.”
So far, rival teams have not aggressively pursued Kuminga with formal offer sheets, league sources told ClutchPoints. The Sacramento Kings have been linked to Kuminga in recent weeks, but any potential sign-and-trade talks between the two Northern California teams have reportedly stalled.
“There’s been no significant traction between the Kings and the Warriors in trade talks,” one source noted. “And Golden State would likely prefer to avoid sending him to a division rival if it comes to that.”
With NBA Summer League action set to tip off in Las Vegas, the Warriors could be inching closer to resolving Kuminga’s future. Whether it results in a short-term return to Golden State or a move elsewhere, the outcome will likely determine when — or if — Al Horford joins the Dubs.
For now, Warriors fans will have to wait. But if the Kuminga situation clears up soon, Horford could still be suiting up in blue and gold by the end of the summer.
