Al Horford Among Several Free Agents To Find New Homes As Training Camps Open Up League Wide

With NBA training camps getting underway, teams are finalizing their 21-man rosters. While the Golden State Warriors have been rumored to have reached agreements with several veterans, they finally officially announced a deal with one of them. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Al Horford has agreed to a multiyear contract with the Warriors.

“Horford verbally committed to the Warriors on Sunday,” sources told Charania. “The sides are working through the final financial terms, with a signing in the coming days after the final decision from restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.”

Al Horford Among Several Free Agents To Find New Homes As Training Camps Open Up League-Wide

Despite being nearly 40, Horford has been the Warriors’ top target for all of last season.  Horford gives the Warriors a wily vet who becomes more efficient offensively over the years. While not as athletic, Horford is still a strong rebounder and stout defender with the ability to protect the rim. He is also an outstanding passer and screener who has become a legitimate floor spacer — over 60% of his shots have come from beyond the arc in each of the last three seasons.

It will be interesting to see if Steve Kerr decides to start Horford or bring him off the bench. Either way, Horford projects to get significant with the top unit. Horford averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 36.3% from behind the arc. However, he averaged only 28 minutes per game in 60 appearances, including 42 starts.

Obviously, Kerr could deploy the same philosophy regarding Horford, only playing/starting him in the most critical situations. Kerr does have other options at center with Draymond Green, Quenten Post, and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Warriors Announce Other Agreements

Horford is not the only signing Golden State announced. Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton have reportedly committed to deals, while Will Richard has secured a four-year contract. Charania tweeted that the first two years are guaranteed.

“Golden State’s No. 56 pick Will Richard is signing a four-year contract, with two years fully guaranteed as the Warriors invest long-term in the rookie, his agents Jared Mucha and Marcus Monk of Excel Sports Management tell ESPN,” per Charania.

Melton and Payton II will add defense and backcourt depth. Melton figures to be part of the Warriors’ second unit, while Payton II will likely be more of an injury fill-in. However, Buddy Hield and Moses Moody will likely be the first two guards/wings off the bench for Kerr.

Payton II is technically a re-signing as he spent the last two-plus seasons in the Bay Area and five overall. Meanwhile, the Warriors dealt an injured Melton to Brooklyn in December.  The Warriors signed the 27-year-old to a free-agent deal in July, and he played six games for the team before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

Like Horford’s multiyear agreement, the full details of Richard, Payton II, and Melton won’t be known until Kuminga signs on the dotted line. However, those four players bring the Warriors up to 13 players on standard deals.

Alex Toohey and Seth Curry

In addition, Golden State added 2025 second-round pick Alex Toohey to a two-way deal. This was another expected deal. Toohey joins  Jackson Rowe on a two-way contract and leaves the Warriors with just one minor league spot left.

“Another deal done Sunday for Golden State: The Warriors are signing No. 52 pick Alex Toohey to a two-way NBA contract, sources tell ESPN – Charania tweeted late last night.

What about Seth Curry? No news has surfaced about Curry joining his brother, Steph Curry, though it has previously been reported as a possibility. However, ESPN’s Bobby Marks adds that if the Warriors sign Kuminga to a deal starting at around $22 million, they would have the ability to add a 15th player and remain below the second apron.

Sacramento Kings Sign One Player, Waive 2

The Sacramento Kings have waived Jameer Nelson Jr. and Jaylin Williams, both youngsters who spent last season in the G League. They signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Kings a few days ago. Nelson played for the Austin Spurs after going undrafted out of TCU in 2024. Williams played for Denver’s affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold.

Nelson and Williams are ticketed to remain with the Stockton Kings G-League squad. With the release of Nelson and Williams, Sacramento is now down to 20 players as they prepare to open training camp today. But the Kings have reportedly agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Dennis Dexter.

Dexter has spent the majority of the last two seasons in the G League, including 44 contests with Stockton in the 2024-25 season. Dennis played a major role in Stockton winning the NBAGL championship last season, averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists with a shooting line of .428/.350/.780. He appeared in four NBA games with Dallas in 2023-24.

Minnesota Timberwolves Sign 3 Players

Minnesota signed three players to Exhibit 10 deals on Sunday:  Jules Bernard, Alize Johnson, and Zyon Pullin.  That trio of signings gives the Timberwolves 21 players for camp. They join Johnny Juzang on training camp deals.

Minnesota has one open standard contract, and it is approximately $4 million below the second apron. Therefore, it is conceivable that Bernard and Johnson. Juzang or Pullin make the team. However, the four will likely begin the season in the G League.

Bernard, who played 19 NBA games with Washington in 2023-24, spent last season with the Canton Charge. The 6-7 wing has 114 games of G-League experience since going undrafted out of UCLA in 2022.

Pullin spent most of last season in the G-League with Sioux Falls Skyforce (Miami) and Memphis Hustle, after going undrafted out of Florida in 2024. Although he played in three games with the Memphis Grizzlies, he saw only three minutes of action.

Johnson is the most experienced of the three players signed yesterday. The 2018 second-round draft pick spent the last two seasons overseas, playing in Japan’s B League the previous year. He has 75 games of NBA experience, with his most recent opportunity coming in the 2022-23 season with the Indiana Pacers.

 Other NBA Transactions

One day after signing Anton Watson and guard Nate Williams to Exhibit 10 deals to reach 21 players, the Los Angeles Lakers waived Kylor Kelley on Sunday. Kelley, who appeared in 11 NBA games for Dallas and New Orleans last season, signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Lakers in August. Kelley is entering his fifth season of professional basketball, spending most of his time in the G League, including the 2023-24 campaign with the South Bay Lakers. He is slated to head to South Bay for the start of the 2024-25 campaign.

Philadelphia signed Marcus Bagley to an Exhibit 10 contract on Sunday morning. By Sunday afternoon, the Sixers waived the 23-year-old wing. Bagley appeared in 10 games for the Sixers last season, including four starts, averaging 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer noted that Bagley is expected to join the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.