Warriors' Depth Chart, Salary Cap After Al Horford Lands Contract Before NBA Season
While one spot in the Golden State Warriors' frontcourt remains unaccounted for, the team added to its depth by securing a multiyear agreement with Al Horford, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
Charania also reported Gary Payton II and De'Anthony Melton committed to signing deals with the Warriors. Second-round pick Will Richard also agreed to a four-year deal with Golden State on Sunday.
The deals come as the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga remain locked in a contract standoff.
Horford will give the Warriors a starting option at center after longtime veteran Kevon Looney signed with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Golden State Warriors Projected Depth Chart
- PG: Stephen Curry, Brandin Podziemski
- SG: Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield, Gary Payton II, De'Anthony Melton, Will Richard
- SF: Jimmy Butler, Buddy Hield, Moses Moody
- PF: Draymond Green, Gui Santos
- C: Al Horford, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Draymond Green
ESPN's Anthony Slater reported in August that Horford was expected to land with the Warriors but that "the Kuminga situation continues to hold up business for them."
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, Horford's contract won't be official until Golden State has more clarity with Kuminga. Finances are tight for general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Pending the full details of Horford's payout, here's the team's payroll for the 2025-26 season:
Golden State Warriors Payroll
- Stephen Curry: $59,606,817
- Jimmy Butler: $54,126,450
- Draymond Green: $25,892,857
- Moses Moody: $11,574,075
- Buddy Hield: $9,219,512
- Brandin Podziemski: $3,687,960
- Gui Santos: $2,221,677
- Trayce Jackson-Davis: $2,221,677
- Quinten Post: $1,955,377
- Jackson Rowe: Two-Way Contract
Contract info via Spotrac
According to Spotrac, Golden State is a little more than $25 million away from the first apron of the luxury tax and nearly $36.9 million away from the second apron.
Re-signing Kuminga, on top of getting Horford, would almost certainly make the Warriors a tax apron team.
Slater and Charania reported on Sept. 15 that Dunleavy increased his offer to $75.2 million over three years, though the third year is a team option. Kuminga is adamant about excluding any team options. The highest Golden State will go on a fully guaranteed contract is three years and $54 million.
The 22-year-old still has until Wednesday to sign the $7.9 million qualifying offer, and his agent indicated that's at least a possibility.
While Kuminga would be a short-term bargain with the qualifying offer, that pathway might seal his eventual exit from the Bay Area. He'd become an unrestricted free agent next summer and have the opportunity to pursue he best package possible.
Independent of the Kuminga saga, Horford gives head coach Steve Kerr another option inside.
The 39-year-old averaged nine points, 6.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 27.7 minutes per game with the Boston Celtics in 2024-25. He was also a 36.3 percent shooter from beyond the arc, which was below his career mark (37.7 percent) but still solid for a stretch big.
Having Green play center has always been an effective strategy for Kerr, but that has never been his full-time position. Basketball Reference estimates he has logged 15 percent of his career minutes at the 5.
Making such a dramatic change when Green is entering his 14th season would've been risky. Now, that's no longer an issue with Horford joining the roster.
