Al Horford Reportedly Has 'Robust' Free-Agent Market amid Celtics, NBA Rumors

The Boston Celtics already shipped away some of their top veterans by trading guard Jrue Holiday and forward/center Kristaps Porzingis this week, and another key member of their roster could also be on the way out.

During an appearance on Wednesday's episode of The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Celtics veteran center Al Horford "is one of those players as well, and I am told he has a pretty robust free agency market outside of Boston, potentially, this offseason."

Horford was in his second stint in Boston, as he previously played for the franchise from 2016 to 2019 before being traded back to the team in 2021. He signed a two-year contract extension a year later, and he made $9.5 million this season in the final year of the deal.

While Horford is far removed from the form that earned him five selections to the All-Star Game, he's still a reliable veteran who is capable of contributing to a winning team. His veteran presence helped guide the Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship. In 60 games with 42 starts this season, the 39-year-old averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

With 18 NBA seasons under his belt, it's no secret that Horford is nearing the end of his stellar career. However, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported earlier this month that "the general sense around the league and those close to Horford is that he’ll continue to play next season."

The Celtics sent Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday and dealt Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team deal on Tuesday. Boston is facing significant financial constraints and an uncertain future in the wake of star forward Jayson Tatum's torn Achilles, which is likely to keep him out for the entire 2025-26 season.

It sounds like there will be a ton of competition for Horford's services this offseason, so the Celtics will have to continue reshaping their roster with new faces this summer.