So what if the rebound rate is 12%! Horford is the one who the Warriors lack, but the average 28 minutes per game is already the limit

As long as Jonathan Kumingga remains a restricted free agent, the offseason operation of the Golden State Warriors will continue to be delayed. It is unclear where Kumingga will go, especially if he accepts a qualifying offer contract, he will leave the team as a full free agent in the summer of 2026.

Although all the Warriors' operations in the summer have been put on hold due to the influence of Kuminga, it has been reported that the Warriors have reached a verbally cooperation agreement with several free agents, and once Kuminga's situation is resolved, they will immediately sign a contract to join the team. The most important signing is former Boston Celtics champion center Al Horford, who is said to include a player option in the contract the Warriors intend to give him, hoping to play an important role in a playoff-level team again before ending his already legendary career. The possibility of Horford being inducted into the Hall of Fame has always been controversial. I believe that this controversy will exist until everything is settled, but it is undeniable that the 39-year-old player still seems to have some strength. But for the Warriors who are already older (their three highest-paid players are all over 35 years old), it is very important to study the fit between Horford and the team.

It is obvious that at this stage of his career, Horford is not an effective conversion attack, nor is it an offensive threat to Stephen Curry and others pass high-altitude balls. TJD is more suitable for these tasks than TJD, who has been in this role since he was selected by the Warriors in 2023. In addition, Horford is no longer the top rebounder in his early career, with his total rebounding rate of only 12% in the past three seasons.

But the editor thinks that more important is that we need to understand what Horford can bring to the Warriors and how the Warriors can make good use of his advantages. Assuming the report is accurate, Horford is indeed ready to join the Warriors, and his best role in the Warriors is undoubtedly the ability to open up the offensive space. Although his three-point shooting percentage dropped last season, he shot 40% higher in the previous season. The Golden State Warriors' offense was boosted by Quinten Post's outside shooting last season, and Horford should have a similar effect.

In addition, Horford remains a defensive player above the league average, which can be seen from his analytical data. Although Horford's defense will likely decline a little as he grows older, as a representative of high IQ players in the league, as long as the Warriors can avoid getting him into singles on the defensive end, the Warriors should be able to make good use of his abilities.

But to be honest, with Horford's age and current state, we should not have too high expectations for Horford's joining, nor should we expect him to average more than 28 minutes of playing time. Given his age and ability, the Warriors are better off using Horford carefully in the regular season to be able to keep him healthy and fresh in the playoffs. So if Horford joins the Warriors, he will undoubtedly have a very clear role in this team.