Everyone thought that Al Horford would sign with the Warriors in free agency. While that could still happen, the Milwaukee Bucks are also among the teams in the mix for the 39-year-old who won't be returning to Boston.
On Monday's episode of ESPN's NBA Today, Marc Spears said that Golden State expected Horford to sign with the team last week. Spears listed the Bucks, Lakers, and Hawks as other teams interested in Horford's services, also mentioning that Horford is still considering retirement.
It might've seemed like a foregone conclusion that he'd go to the Warriors, or that he'd consider signing with the Lakers, but there's more to it than that. Spears said that it wouldn't be ideal for Horford to go to the West Coast, far from his family. He lives in Atlanta and Boston during the offseason, so based on that, the Hawks have an upper hand.
The Bucks can't be ruled out as a destination, either. Milwaukee isn't as far away from Atlanta and Boston as San Francisco and Los Angeles are. Having the opportunity to play with Giannis Antetokounmpo is enough of a draw.
Bucks are still in the running to sign Al Horford in free agency
Horford would be a solid addition to the Bucks' frontcourt. He averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for the Celtics last season, shooting 42.3% from the field and 36.3% from three in 60 games (42 starts). He's one of the older players in the league, but he can still go out there and put up numbers.
His postseason experience would be a bonus for Milwaukee as the team hopes to advance past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2022. It was less than two years ago when Horford helped the Celtics win a championship. He'd have a better chance of winning another title in the East than joining what will be a tight race in the West.
There isn't a frontrunner for who will sign Horford if he decides to play at least another season, even though the Warriors thought they were at the top of his list. Based on what Spears said, it seems like the Hawks could be Horford's preferred choice, but he could be eyeing the Bucks, too. Milwaukee might also be seriously considering signing him. They should be, at the very least.
Horford might not fit the exact direction the Bucks have pushed themselves in, but that alone shouldn't be why he doesn't end up in Wisconsin if that's where he wants to be.