Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy has been extremely quiet this offseason, but a veteran big man is coming to the Bay.
Nineteen-year NBA veteran Al Horford has committed to signing a multi-year contract with Golden State, his agent Jason Glushon told ESPN’s Shams Charania on Sunday. Draymond Green has been vocal about another big man joining the squad.
“When you’re at center, you’re involved in every single play because you’re anchoring the defense,” Green told reporters Monday at Warriors Media Day. “You are the last line of everything. So there is no break. Like you are at the forefront of everything. That can be a lot at times.”
Horford’s addition will take a lot of weight off Green’s shoulders. Entering his 14th NBA season, Green will be getting some much-deserved relief at the center position.
“I’m never one that’s going to turn the opportunity down because if you turn the opportunity down,” Green continued, “you maybe turn the opportunity of minutes down, and I still love to play this game and compete and help my team win.”
Golden State has young talent at the center position in the program with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post, but the addition of Horford will allow Green to get back to his preferred position.
“In an ideal world, I would love to play more 4,” Green explained. “That’s my natural position. That’s how I became who I’ve become at that position. But nothing’s changed about me at this point. I will always do — be willing to do whatever the team needs me to do and whatever shoes that I need to wear, if it fits, I’m going to wear it.”
Executing the team’s needs has been a habit for Green for over a decade. In his 13th season, the Michigan State alum came in third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
“Playing in the NBA is tough,” Green concluded. “Living every day life for a lot of people is tough. So I’ll take my tough.”
Horford’s presence during the upcoming season likely will lessen the load for Green, along with the young big men on the roster.
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