Celtics Resign Reserve Center To Start Off Free Agency

luke-kornet

Free agency is just getting started, and Boston showed they wanted to make their reserve big a priority with an aging frontcourt.

Shared by NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Boston has agreed to terms with reserve big Luke Kornet to return to the Celtics on a one-year deal.

With injuries to Kristaps Porzingis, Kornet was able to see meaningful minutes in these past NBA playoffs. His best performance came against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, were he grabbed ten rebounds and blocked two shots in a Celtics Game 1 win.

During the regular season, Kornet put up averages of 5.3 PPG and 4.1 RPG while shooting an incredibly efficient 70.0% from the floor. He made 63 appearances for the Celtics and started seven games in the regular season.

Now with Boston bringing back Kornet, it will likely be between him and Al Horford as to who will start the season off as the team's starting center. This is due to the fact Porzingis is expected to miss up to the first two months of the season while he recovers from surgery.

After being acquired by the Celtics in the 2021-22 season, Kornet seems to have found his home in Boston after he spent 20 total games with the team in 2020-21 and bounced around before his return.

The Celtics aren't expected to be in play for any big names in free agency this year due to their cap space, as priorities appear to be on locking up All-Star wing Jayson Tatum and All-Defensive guard Derrick White on long-term deals.