The Boston Celtics have already endured their share of heartbreak this offseason. And now, as if losing Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday wasn’t painful enough, it looks like they'll be watching Luke Kornet walk out the door next. The San Antonio Spurs will reportedly be signing Kornet in the early stages of free agency. There's no question this is another significant blow for a fanbase already bracing for a transition year without Jayson Tatum.
Let’s not pretend Kornet was some sort of secret weapon. If you’ve been paying attention to this team at all, you know exactly what the big man meant for this squad. Kornet wasn’t flashy, and he wasn’t a nightly double-double threat. But number 40 gave Boston something that’s hard to find on the open market: Size, effort, and a deep understanding of his role. He filled the gaps, protected the paint, and played drop coverage like he invented it.
It’s tough to say what hurts more: Losing a genuinely beloved locker room guy, or losing him to the Spurs, a team that will have a chance of taking a serious level up in the Western Conference next season. Either way, this one stings.
Luke Kornet will join the San Antonio Spurs
What makes Kornet’s departure more frustrating is the context. The Celtics are no longer reloading, they are instead headed into a new era. With Tatum expected to miss most if not all of next season due to his Achilles injury, and with both Holiday and Porzingis already sent packing, this team is entering uncharted territory. The title window isn’t slammed shut, but things look quite a bit different than they did a year ago.
Boston now has less guys that can play at a high level in the postseason, and that’s where Kornet’s value really stood out. He always stepped into every challenge Joe Mazzulla handed him, often without missing a beat. There were times last season where he was the only reliable rim presence off the bench.
Replacing the kind of dependability Kornet brought to the floor isn’t as easy as it sounds. Brad Stevens will no doubt have a plan, as he always does. But if you're a Celtics fan, you certainly have every right to be frustrated right about now. For a team that’s suddenly searching for stability, losing a rock like Luke only makes this situation harder.