Overview
- Horford declined his roughly $6 million player option and on Thursday told ESPN he intends to sign a fully guaranteed two-year, $14 million contract with Golden State that includes a trade kicker.
- Reports indicate the deal is structured using the Warriors' Non-Bird rights, which lets the team give Horford about a 20% raise over his prior salary with a standard 5% year-to-year increase.
- Horford will skip summer play for the Dominican Republic and remain in the Bay Area to follow a targeted strength and conditioning program as he seeks to be healthier and more available next season.
- The signing preserves veteran leadership and frontcourt depth while the Warriors continue separate negotiations to re-sign Kristaps Porzingis as they try to address size and rim protection.
- By returning for 2026-27 Horford will play his 20th NBA season, becoming one of only a small group of players to reach that mark, and the contract will become official when the NBA's free-agency moratorium ends.