The Boston Celtics had to hit the reset button. Two years over the second apron, and Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles will do that to a franchise. The position on their depth chart that felt the effect of that the most was the center spot. However, one team's loss is another's gain.
While the organization would have loved to retain Luke Kornet, they had to say goodbye to a player they watched blossom after he reinvented himself in their infrastructure.
John Hollinger of The Athletic labeled the San Antonio Spurs' swooping in to sign Kornet as one of the smartest moves made this offseason.
"The Spurs' landing of Kornet with the bulk of their non-taxpayer midlevel exception [four years, $41 million] was a strong piece of business," wrote the former vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies.
"San Antonio wisely targeted a player it knew wouldn't be retained by his original team [the Boston Celtics were in cost-cutting mode]. Kornet also fit the Spurs' need for a banger to play behind — and occasionally alongside — Victor Wembanyama absolutely perfectly."
The savvy structure of Luke Kornet's deal with the Spurs
As Hollinger noted, Kornet is an excellent fit with his new team on the court. He is plenty comfortable in double-big lineups and can operate in tandem with Wembanyama. But he's also able to function as a standalone big.
The seven-foot-two center plays with physicality at both ends of the floor. It's a significant part of what makes the eight-year veteran such an impactful screen setter. He also has a high basketball IQ, making him a highly productive partner on dribble handoffs. He's also able to facilitate out of the pick-and-roll. Kornet will maintain control as he gathers the ball while diving to the rim. Not only can he quickly identify who's open, but he can also use his eyes to manipulate the defender who is zoning two players. That frees the ideal kick-out option to launch an open three.
But beyond his offensive impact, including being a reliable finisher at the basket, his rim protection, and effectiveness on the boards, as Hollinger explains, there's value in how San Antonio structured Kornet's contract.
"Kornet isn't breaking the bank in the present, but the real gem of the deal is all the future flexibility it allows. For starters, the money descends year-to-year over the four-year deal to $9.35 million over the final season in 2028-29. Thus, as the rest of the young Spurs roster likely becomes more expensive, Kornet becomes less so. Second, the final two years are only partially guaranteed at $2.55 million apiece [with the final year also including a team option]. Hence, the Spurs' worst-case scenario beyond this season is an exposure of just $13 million."
Kornet turned 30 in July, so if the Texas native's homecoming doesn't go as envisioned, San Antonio is well-protected. If he continues to be the type of player he was in Boston, then the Spurs have a long-term contributor on a valuable contract. His acquisition and the structure of this arrangement represent one of the smartest moves made this offseason.