The Boston Celtics may have just leaked their own secret: that they intend to re-sign free agent backup center Luke Kornet.
Heading into the NBA Draft, Boston was one of many teams in flux. Brad Stevens traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to cut the team's salary plus tax in half and drop the Celtics below the second luxury tax apron. Now the question turns to what is next; are more cuts to come?
One potential casualty of Boston's culling of costs was backup center Luke Kornet. The journeyman big has become something of a folk hero for the Celtics and many fans hope he would return. Even so, the team's financial situation cast a return very much in doubt.
A hint at the front office's plan was wafted out on Wednesday night -- not with Boston's words but with their actions. As the first round slowed to a close, the Celtics had the third-to-last pick of the night. Given that they traded away Kristaps Porzingis and the age of Al Horford, it made sense to find a backup big man.
Creighton's towering center, Ryan Kalkbrenner, was on the board when the Celtics chose. As was Stanford stretch-5 Maxime Reynaud. Both were often mocked to the Celtics in the predraft process and it was not a given that either would be available.
Yet they were, which made it seem almost fait accompli Boston would draft one or the other, or even if they didn't that they would make a trade. Yet the Celtics drafted Hugo Gonzalez, a wing from Spain, and passed entirely on the centers available.
They could do that if they had Gonzalez significantly higher on their draft board as the big men, and perhaps that is true. Also true is the reality that the center position is largely replaceable. Why use a pick on a center, then?
Celtics are bringing back Luke Kornet
The answer is that you don't, not if you plan to re-sign your backup center who fits your team like a glove. Boston could go best player available because the pressure was alleviated by having reduced their salary enough to make re-signing Luke Kornet a possibility; they were not slaves to team needs and could focus on taking the best player on their board.
The Celtics do get to pick again with the 32nd pick, so they could address their needs at center. More likely, however, their sidestep on Wednesday night better captures the working relationship they look to continue with Luke Kornet.
Boston did not expect to have their pick of the center prospects. They will again, picking at No. 32, but their first-round pick is a sign that Kornet is returning to Boston.