Boston Celtics forward/centerAl Horfordwill be returning for his 18th NBA season next year. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck was on The Greg Hill Show on WEEI, a local Boston radio station, and said, "Al is coming back for next year. That's what I've been told." At 38 years old, Horford won his first NBA championship on Monday as the Celtics defeated the Mavs 106-88. He's suited up for 186 postseason contests and averaged 33.8 minutes, 12.2 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in his career.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Toronto Raptors are expected to pick up the team option of guard/forward Bruce Brown. The 27-year-old won an NBA championship with the Nuggets in 2022-23. However, after signing with the Indiana Pacers, he was dealt to Toronto ahead of the 2023-24 trade deadline. He appeared in 34 games for the Raptors, although his statistical contributions declined, averaging 9.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Nonetheless, the Raptors could end up trading him at some point during the 2024-25 campaign, potentially increasing his production.

According to Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James' agent, Rich Paul, his client won't suit up for the Suns this season on a minimum contract. Speculation began to swirl about the possibility of James playing in Phoenix after his son, Bronny James, worked out for the club. However, it appears even if the Suns select the 19-year-old in the 2024 NBA Draft, it won't be enough to coax his father into joining Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Without question, the multi-time All-Star is nearing the end of his career. Yet, despite injuries, he's still productive, finishing the 2023-24 campaign by averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while shooting a career-high 41.0% from deep. At any rate, James still needs to decline his $51.4 million player option to enter unrestricted free agency, with his decision expected to come soon.

ESPN NBA reporter Kendra Andrews has reported that point Gary Payton II has chosen to remain in Golden State with the Warriors after opting into his $9.1 million player option for next year. The 31-year-old guard averaged 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 56.3% from the field this past season. However, his health remains a concern. Payton only played in 44 games as several injuries forced him to be sidelined. He missed games in November and December with a calf strain, and then a hamstring strain cost him time in January and February. The Warriors hope to get more production from Payton moving forward.

ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that Pascal Siakam plans to sign a new maximum deal with the Indiana Pacers, worth $189.5 million over four years. The All-NBA forward is expected to sign the new contract once the league's free agency moratorium ends on July 6. After a mid-season trade from the Toronto Raptors, Siakam became a major part of Indiana's success, helping lead the team to the Eastern Conference Finals. In 41 regular season games with the Pacers, the 30-year-old averaged 21.3 points per game while shooting 55% from the field in 41 regular-season.