The Boston Celtics would have loved to have kept Luke Kornet. As the franchise's president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, noted at the team's media day at the Auerbach Center, they extended an offer, hoping he'd stick around.
Given their lack of flexibility after consecutive campaigns over the second apron, the organization understood there was a significant chance he'd cash in elsewhere this summer.
The 30-year-old center joined the San Antonio Spurs on a four-year, $41 million deal. John Hollinger, the former vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, labeled it one of the smartest moves of this offseason.
"San Antonio wisely targeted a player it knew wouldn't be retained by his original team [the Boston Celtics were in cost-cutting mode]," wrote Hollinger. "Kornet also fit the Spurs' need for a banger to play behind — and occasionally alongside — Victor Wembanyama absolutely perfectly."
Kornet can operate effectively as a standalone big or alongside another player of that description, like Wembanyama. It's a scenario that he discussed following a recent practice.
"We definitely hope to play together," stated Kornet. "I was fortunate enough to play with [Kristaps] Porzingis and [Al] Horford last year. So, to be able to have some experience with that. I think having two rim protectors can give you a lot of versatility to make things hard for the other team. Should be a fun time trying to figure it out offensively."
The eight-year veteran also brings a championship pedigree to a Spurs roster brimming with burgeoning talent.
What Luke Kornet is bringing from his Celtics tenure
When Kornet met with the local media in San Antonio on the heels of a Spurs practice at training camp, the seven-foot-two center shared what he learned during his time in Boston that will help foster the growth of his new team.
"Obviously, [it was] an incredible experience, and being able to share it with the team and the Celtics' organization," expressed Kornet. "Especially the couple [of] years that we had of contending for it and falling short, and then to finally be able to do it. ... It just takes kind of everybody just really daily working and committing to just doing their role and competing at the highest level. There's not really any kind of cheat code. It's just very disciplined."
That's a valuable lesson to instill in a mature young nucleus that includes Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle. Even for a more seasoned player like 27-year-old De'Aaron Fox, it's beneficial to learn from someone who experienced what it was like to repeatedly finish within an arm's length of the Larry O'Brien Trophy before finally hoisting it.
It's a prime example of the championship wisdom that Kornet can bring to the Spurs to help them blossom into a team that enjoys comparable success to what the Celtics have experienced during an era led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.