It didn’t take long to discover the answer to a curiosity that lingered throughout the Warriors’ summer of tedium: Why would the oldest team in the league last season decide it’s a good idea to re-sign 40-year-old Al Horford?Answer: Because Kristaps Porziis is the other experienced center on the roster.
Porziis’ talent is undeniable, but his unpredictable availability requires his team to have a respectable Plan B. Horford, a skilled part-timer, meets the criteria. Relying on either one would be a sign of negligence, but having both diminishes the risk.
Porziis and Horford, teammates for two seasons in Boston, are a package deal for the Warriors. They knew in April that they wanted to retain Porziis as the starter. They also understood they’d need a trusted backup. Six days after Porziis re-signed, Horford’s signature was on a contract.
When Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy’s announced Monday that a sudden “health issue” would prevent Porziis from participating in training camp this week in Hawaii, Horford was immediately elevated from Uncle Mahatma to absolute necessity.