Al Horford has looked rejuvenated since returning from injury, giving the Golden State Warriors some steady minutes in the frontcourt over the past month. But as the 37-year-old veteran nears the twilight of his career, the question looms: how much longer will he be part of the Warriors’ plans?
Horford holds a $6 million player option for next season, meaning he could run it back for a 20th NBA campaign-or decide to hang it up for good. Either way, Golden State may soon be in the market for another veteran stretch big, and there’s already a familiar name floating around as a potential fit: Nikola Vucevic.
Vucevic Could Fill the Horford Void
Vucevic has been a fixture in trade rumors for years, and the Warriors were one of the teams linked to him ahead of last season’s deadline. Ultimately, Golden State passed, opting instead to bring in Horford this past offseason-a move that’s paid off in the short term. But with Horford’s future uncertain, Vucevic could once again surface as a viable option, this time via free agency.
According to recent reporting, Vucevic is expected to finish the season with the Bulls, but there’s growing belief he’ll draw interest this summer if he hits the open market. He’s reportedly open to a reduced role on the right team-something that mirrors the situation Horford stepped into last offseason.
That kind of mindset could be exactly what the Warriors are looking for. While Vucevic doesn’t bring the same defensive presence Horford does-few do-he offers a different kind of value.
He’s still a highly skilled offensive player with a soft shooting touch and a strong rebounding presence. Even in a slightly down year by his standards, he’s putting up 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 37.3% from three on nearly five attempts per contest.
That kind of production, especially in a complementary role, could be a nice fit in Golden State’s system.
The Money Question
Of course, fit is only part of the equation. The financial side matters too, and Vucevic is currently wrapping up a three-year, $60 million deal.
The big unknown is whether he’d be willing to take a pay cut to join a contender like the Warriors. At 35, and with zero playoff series wins on his résumé, the chance to chase a ring might outweigh the desire for another big payday.
Golden State’s front office will have some decisions to make this summer. Horford’s player option is just one piece of the puzzle.
Trayce Jackson-Davis has a team option, and Quinten Post will be a restricted free agent. That leaves the center rotation wide open to potential reshuffling.
If Horford walks away or the Warriors decide to move in a different direction, Vucevic could be a natural successor-bringing a different skill set, but one that might mesh well with the Warriors’ motion-heavy offense and need for floor-spacing from the five spot.
Bottom line: Golden State has options, but they’ll need to be strategic. The window to contend with this core isn’t wide open forever, and the right veteran addition-like Vucevic-could be the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that helps keep the Warriors in the mix.