BREAKING: Celtics made a tough decision on big man’s future
Luke Kornet is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. As the Boston Celtics’ third-string big man, he played a crucial role in their championship rotation.
Kornet’s size, defense, and agility make him an appealing, budget-friendly option for NBA front offices. Boston might struggle to keep him if other teams offer him contracts.
“Boston has full Bird rights on Kornet if it needs to give him a slight raise on the $2.4 million he made a year ago as a sometimes-rotation center,” wrote John Hollinger from The Athletic. “However, he may have fans in other front offices willing to pay more, and the Celtics’ luxury tax situation likely limits how high they can go.”
Boston’s bench includes several big men, with Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta all potentially entering free agency this summer. Tillman is also an unrestricted free agent, while Boston holds a team option on Queta. Kornet has been the most reliable of the three, appearing in 63 regular season games and 13 postseason contests.
As a second-apron luxury tax team, the Celtics face restrictions on the contracts they can offer free agents. Despite this, they hold Bird rights for Kornet and Tillman, allowing them to exceed tax limitations to retain one or both players. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely they’ll keep both.
Tillman offers greater defensive versatility than Kornet, capable of switching positions and handling various defensive roles. Boston must decide whether they value Kornet’s size or Tillman’s versatility more for the next season.
Both players are negotiating from a position of strength as NBA champions, though Kornet had a more significant role in their success.
Boston faces a tough decision. Kornet has been an important part of the rotation under coach Joe Mazzulla, with Brad Stevens as a supporter. However, if Kornet’s market value has increased and his production doesn’t justify the tax implications of re-signing him, he might end up with a new team this summer.
Brad Stevens has a challenging month ahead.