After missing out on Kristaps Porzingis, the San Antonio Spurs could shift their focus to Luke Kornet, the Boston Celtics’ fan-favorite reserve center.
The Spurs are in the market for Victor Wembanyama‘s chief backup. Kornet can fit that role very well based on his performance last season for the Celtics.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, citing league sources, the Spurs chased Porzingis before the Celtics traded him to the Atlanta Hawks.
“Now the Spurs, league sources say, are looming as a prominent landing spot for big men on the free agent market as well,” Fischer wrote on “The Stein Line” Substack newsletter.
Kornet is one of the free-agent centers who has positioned himself for a big payday this offseason after his most impactful season in the NBA with the Celtics.
“Another center target, sources say, that rival executives expect San Antonio to pursue: Boston’s Luke Kornet,” Fischer wrote. “The Celtics’ 29-year-old big man, who has yet to earn north of $3 million in any single season in his eight-year NBA career, appears to have a real shot to cash out in this summer’s midlevel market.”
The Spurs will have access to the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception and $5.1 million biannual exceptions, according to NBA front office insider Bobby Marks.
Luke Kornet is More Than Just a Meme
The 7-foot-1 beanpole proved he’s more than just a meme — his awkward yet effective way of contesting a 3-point shot by jumping up vertically as high as he can with his 7-foot-1 wingspan to try obstruct the view of shooters from a distance — as he averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 blocks while shooting 66.8% from the field.
He endeared himself even more to Boston fans after the game of his life in their Game 5 win over the New York Knicks in the second round with a 10-point, 9-rebound, 7-block performance.
The eight-year veteran played a career-high 73 games last season, averaging 18.6 minutes per contest. In the playoffs, he put up solid numbers: 4.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 16.4 minutes while shooting a career-best 72.4% from the field.
Celtics Trying to Get Under Luxury Tax to Keep Luke Kornet
According to Jay King of The Athletic, Anfernee Simons, the Celtics’ recent acquisition from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Holiday trade, is a prime candidate to be re-traded.
“Looking to continue shedding salary, the Celtics have explored the idea of flipping Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract, according to league sources. In such a move, they would be aiming to accomplish two organizational directives Brad Stevens emphasized after the first round of the NBA Draft on Wednesday: regaining more roster flexibility and setting up a path to retain free agents Luke Kornet and Al Horford,” King wrote.
The Celtics are currently $15 million above the luxury tax threshold. Offloading Simons’ $27.7 million expiring salary could open up the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception that could be enough to keep both of their remaining centers.
The Spurs will be rooting against this to have a chance of prying away one of the Celtics’ centers.
Spurs Also Interested in Jaylen Brown
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty ImagesGiannis Antetokounmpo, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
The Spurs held on to their assets and did not participate in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes because of Brown and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.
“Other than a potential trade for Giannis in the future, the Spurs have also monitored Jaylen Brown’s status with the Boston Celtics through the years, sources said. Now that the Boston Celtics are primed to take a step back and are looking to cut costs, the 28-year-old Finals MVP is suddenly worth talking about,” Siegel wrote on June 17.
The 28-year-old Brown averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals this past season. He will enter the second year of his five-year, $304 million supermax deal.
However, Celtics vice president Mike Zarren recently shut down the idea that Brown is available.
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