Nearly 24 hours into free agency, the Lakers still haven’t found their center. Despite the ongoing Deandre Ayton sweepstakes and the addition of a young wing in Jake LaRavia, Lakers fans are waiting with bated breath as to who their starting big man will be. One name under “serious consideration” is also the last one fans would think about welcoming: Celtics veteran Al Horford.
Report: Lakers Considering a Surprising Name for Center Help
Lakers Face “Crucial Decision” Between Ayton and Horford
According to Sam Amick and Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Lakers are considering the 18-year veteran Horford. While Woike noted that “the Lakers are still evaluating other options in free agency and via trade,” Amick doubled down, adding: “…this might take some time.”
Sources tell me and @DanWoikeSports that Al Horford is also under serious consideration by the Lakers (in addition to the Warriors). As he says below, this might take some time. https://t.co/kwyL21qduv
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 1, 2025
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A five-time All-Star and 2024 champion, Horford has become a respected voice and solid contributor throughout his career. In 60 games (42 starts) this past season, he averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He also shot 42% from the field, 36% from three and 89% from the free-throw line. The third overall pick in 2007, he has gone on to play over 1,100 regular-season games and nearly 200 in the playoffs.
More Pros Than Cons with Horford
With the free agent center market drying up, it’s understandable why the Lakers are considering Horford for help. Perhaps Rob Pelinka exhausting all his options means looking at older veterans with a little something left in the tank.
Horford still has some good qualities as a backup big man. He’s one of a handful of fives that consistently spaces the floor (career 37% 3PT)—a skill he picked up in 2015 (the first of many seasons with 100+ three-point attempts). And despite his age, he has managed to hold his own on defense, and not just against other bigs. One of Horford’s best defensive performances came in Game 4 of the first round against the Magic. He tallied a playoff career-high five blocks and limited Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero to 3/15 shooting from the field. Such defensive versatility and floor-spacing would be welcomed under head coach JJ Redick, not to mention Horford’s extensive experience on a title winner and various contenders.
However, that’s where Horford’s positives end for the Lakers. In an offseason where the team is trying to build for the future, adding a 39-year-old to the roster is far from ideal—even if it’s for one of the two-year contracts LA is prioritizing this summer. Horford is also more of a jump-shooting big, and while he could still get up for dunks, asking a near-40-year-old to run the floor and catch lobs all night is a recipe for disaster (he is not exactly the LeBron James of centers).
The Last Word on the Lakers and Horford
While Horford could be a wise option for a backup, by no means is he worth pursuing as a starting center. So long as the Lakers are in the race for Ayton, they should continue to target him as the better complement next to LeBron, Luka Doncic, and Austin Reaves.
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