While it’s far from the most notable free agency saga happening in the NBA right now, an update to the Al Horford-Warriors rumors still managed to create a funny, awkward moment during an ESPN broadcast on Monday.
Horford came up during a segment about Golden State on Monday’s episode of “NBA Today.” Reporter Marc Spears, after discussing the Jonathan Kuminga situation, shared the latest on the 39-year-old big man, which includes the possibility that Horford hangs it up after an 18-season career.
“Golden State obviously expected him to sign last week — he didn’t,” Spears said. “Lakers, Milwaukee, Atlanta I believe are also interested in the nearly 40-year-old guy who also has retirement on the table. He’s still considering retiring. He’s not in any hurry.”
While the reporter noted that Horford has another kid on the way, the distance from his family won’t affect his final free agency decision. But Spears then speculated that Horford’s 10-year-old son could be the difference-maker in where the big man ends up because the kid travels with his dad a lot.
“Kid loves basketball — I know he’s like, ‘Dad, Steph Curry, dad,’” Spears said with a laugh. “So I could see Ian convincing his dad to keep playing.”
Immediately after that reporter, however, Tim MacMahon, another ESPN NBA reporter, offered his two cents that put a damper on what Spears had just said.
“Until Al Horford either retires or signs somewhere else, the assumption around the league is that he will end up with the Warriors,” he said. “I would tell Warriors fans relax on that one. I think things are going to turn out in your favor there.”
This is a pretty standard case of two reporters using their respective sources to inform different opinions. What’s not standard is that MacMahon was seated right next to Spears as he delivered a take that downplayed his colleague’s perspective.
Of course, the cherry on top is that fans are no closer to understanding when Horford will sign with Golden State, though that could also have been another point of disagreement.