When NBA free agency kicked off at 6:00 p.m. on the East Coast, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Boston Celtics have re-signed Luke Kornet. The seven-foot-two center is coming back on a one-year deal. Despite the Celtics being over the second apron, they can offer Kornet a raise due to having his Bird rights. Previously, he played on a two-year, $4.5 million contract with an average annual salary of $2.3 million.
Although Boston has the ability to increase his pay, Spotrac forecasts that Kornet, who earned $2.4 million last season, will see his salary reduced to $2.1 million for the 2024-25 season.
In his seventh NBA season, Kornet averaged 5.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game over 63 regular season appearances, playing 15.6 minutes per game. He often delivered when needed in the playoffs, including a significant performance in Boston’s Game 4 win over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where he scored nine points, grabbed six rebounds (three offensive), and blocked one shot.
Turning 29 in July, Kornet is deeply familiar with the Celtics’ system. Head coach Joe Mazzulla trusts him to lead the defense, even allowing him to adjust coverages and matchups.
Reflecting on this trust from his coach, Kornet shared his thoughts with Inside The Celtics: “I feel like he’s extended that trust to our entire team. Throughout the season, we were adaptable and didn’t rely on a single coverage. We trusted our instincts and adjusted on the fly. This process, although initially shaky, helped us develop a collective mentality and adaptability, allowing us to see things through a unified perspective rather than sticking strictly to specific assignments.”
In the past two years, Boston has utilized Kornet in his most effective offensive role, leveraging his skills as a screener and in executing dribble handoffs, as well as his finishing ability at the rim. Mazzulla has praised him and free agent Oshae Brissett as the team’s best offensive rebounders.
Kornet, who excelled in his collegiate career at Vanderbilt and joined the 50/40/90 club by shooting 70% from the field, 90.7% from the free-throw line, and making his only three-point attempt last season, might start taking more shots from beyond the arc again. In his first two NBA seasons with the Knicks, he shot over 35% from three-point range, attempting at least four triples per game.
Re-signing Kornet provides the Celtics with stability as they manage the recovery of Kristaps Porzingis, who had surgery to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon. The team expects Porzingis to return in five to six months, likely joining the Celtics’ pursuit of their 19th championship in November or December.
