Brad Stevens: Celtics Gave These Players ‘Opportunity To Stay’

Longtime Boston Celtics fan favorite Al Horford recently officially joined the Golden State Warriors, nearly three months after fellow big man Luke Kornet bolted Beantown to sign with the San Antonio Spurs.

The terms of Horford’s agreement with the Warriors haven’t been announced yet, but Kornet’s four-year, $41 million contract with the Spurs represents a significant pay bump for the 30-year-old.

President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said on Monday during Celtics Media Day that the team made an effort to re-sign both centers before they left the organization, but Boston’s financial situation made things tricky.

“Stevens on Al Horford’s departure: Unrestricted free agents have rights to make decisions for themselves. ‘We offered both Al and Luke the opportunity to stay … we were gonna be handcuffed around the apron,” Celtics reporter Bobby Manning posted on Bluesky. “Said $ they spent at center showed where they were at.”

Stevens on Al Horford’s departure: Unrestricted free agents have rights to make decisions for themselves. “We offered both Al and Luke the opportunity to stay … we were gonna be handcuffed around the apron.”Said $ they spent at center showed where they were at.

— Bobby Manning (@realbobmanning.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T15:20:44.112Z

Horford and Kornet were far from the only players that Boston saw depart over the summer.

The Celtics also said goodbye to center Kristaps Porzingis in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, guard Jrue Holiday in a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers and forward Georges Niang in a move with the Utah Jazz. Niang had originally been sent to Boston as part of the Porzingis transaction in July before being shipped to Utah in August.

With Horford, Kornet and Porzingis out of the picture, Neemias Queta is expected to be the top contender to open the season as the Celtics starting center.