Luke Kornet has earned a pay rise this summer. The Boston Celtics’ big man has emerged as one of the best backup centers in the NBA over the past two years and has been a reliable part of Joe Mazzulla’s rotation. However, those improvements mean that Boston likely faces some competition to keep the 7-footer on the roster moving forward.
According to a June 29 report from Marc Stein, via his “Stein Line” newsletter, the LA Clippers are viewed as a “team to watch” in Kornet’s free agency. They join the San Antonio Spurs, who Jake Fischer recently cited as having an interest in the former champion.
“To add to another Fischer report from Saturday night: The Clippers have also been described as a team to watch, alongside San Antonio, in the Luke Kornet chase,” Stein reported.
Despite being a non-shooting big, Kornet has figured out how to thrive on the perimeter. He’s developing his playmaking out of the short roll, is a willing and capable screener, and provides vertical spacing when operating in the dunker spot or when cutting toward the rim. Mazzulla has figured out the perfect system to get the best out of the big man.
Nevertheless, the Celtics‘ current cap situation means they may struggle to keep pace with other offers Kornet may receive. Fortunately, the Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis trades have given Brad Stevens some additional flexibility, but with Al Horford’s free agency also on the agenda, the Celtics could be forced into making a tough decision.
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