Al Horford addresses uncertain future with Celtics after elimination to Knicks

BOSTON — Al Horford wasn’t ready to talk about the future as he sat down at the Auerbach Center podium, less than 24 hours removed from a blowout loss to the New York Knicks that prematurely ended the Celtics’ season.

“For me, it’s just too soon to talk about that stuff,” Horford said of his looming free agency. “I’ll take some time here with my wife, with my kids. It’s not even been a day. There’s still a lot for me to process, just feeling everything out from last night. That was difficult.”

This past year, Horford averaged 9 points per game on 42.3% shooting, including 36.3% from three. His efficiency improved in the postseason, as he averaged 8 points on 47.2% shooting, including 40% from three.

And, though he was often hunted defensively, he continued to hold up as one of the premier big man defenders in the league. Once again, with several players in the Celtics’ rotation injured, he proved himself to be one of the most dependable and durable players on the roster, and ultimately ended up starting all but two postseason games.

But, perhaps even more important than his on-court impact has been his steady presence in the locker room.

“You can’t replace Al,” said Payton Pritchard. “So, I definitely hope we get that figured out. Because his locker room presence alone is just crucial, and then having him on the court. For all the young guys, just to see how he goes about his business, how professional he is. He’s just a leader.”

Horford was nominated for the NBA’s Teammate of the Year Award for the second consecutive season. He ultimately didn’t win the award — but in his teammates’ eyes, it didn’t matter.

“Al’s about as good a teammate as I’ve ever seen,” Luke Kornet said. “Honestly, the best one I’ve ever seen.”

If his teammates have anything to do with it, the 38-year-old will be back in green next year

Sam Hauser said that Horford was instrumental in shaping his development as a young player on the Celtics. Now, as Hauser navigated his first season as a young father, Horford has continued to serve as his blueprint.

“My first two years, I watched him from afar a lot,” he said. “I don’t even know if he knows this, but I took a lot of mental notes about how he operated on a day-to-day basis. He’s got five kids at home — he’s got to be really efficient when he’s here, but he’s always in early, getting his pr court and getting his rehab in, getting his treatment in, getting his shots up, doing whatever it takes to be prepared on the court, but also knowing that he’s got to be a father at home too for five kids. Now having a kid — just one — it’s a lot.”

Horford, who signed a two-year, $20 million contract extension in 2022, is now a free agent. He previously maintained he wasn’t planning on retiring this season. But Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rupture threatens to keep him out of all of next year, and it’s uncertain whether Horford’s desire to remain in Boston could be impacted by the franchise cornerstone’s injury.

The players who are under contract desperately hope to get the chance to run it back with their veteran leader.

“We definitely need him back,” Pritchard said.

In addition to Horford, Kornet is also a free agent this summer. On top of that, it’s been widely reported that the Celtics could make a series of trades to reduce next year’s historic payroll, meaning that the statuses of other players on the roster could also be uncertain.

“It sucks,” Derrick White said after the Game 6 loss. “You’ll never get this season back. You’re never going to have the exact same team again.”