The Celtics are facing a potential crossroads at the center position entering the start of NBA free agency. Boston’s best two bigs (Luke Kornet and Al Horford) are unsigned while the team’s starting center from last year (Kristaps Porzingis) was traded to the Hawks last week for Georges Niang and salary relief.
Horford’s intentions entering free agency are unclear as he weighs chasing a bigger payday and a better chance at a ring after Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury and other Boston cost-cutting moves.
Given Horford’s age (39), Kornet may be the more critical free agent for Boston this offseason. The 29-year-old center is already accumulating plenty of interest as free agency approaches, with the Spurs and Clippers already being mentioned as potential suitors armed with the mid-level exception ($14 million).
The Celtics are unlikely to be willing to match that type of money for Kornet (if it’s offered) due to Boston’s presence in the repeater tax this season and expected desire to get under that luxury tax threshold in a year that Tatum is sidelined. Kornet has turned down more money from other teams in the past to remain in Boston, per source, but the money difference is expected to be much bigger this time between other teams and a Celtics offer after a stellar season from the seven-footer
The Celtics may not be willing to match other team’s financial offer, but they do have a potential advantage over other teams when it comes to what they can offer Kornet: long-term stability.
Kornet is eligible to be offered a no-trade clause in his next contract but only from Boston. NBA players must have eight years of NBA experience and spend at least four years with the same team to be eligible for no-trade clause under CBA rules. Kornet checks both of those boxes with the Celtics this summer.
Currently, there are only two players in the NBA that have no-trade clauses this summer (LeBron James and Bradley Beal). Both guys are a far different type of player than Kornet. The vastly reduced number of players around the league with a NTC is representative of the league trying to eliminate that type of leverage for star players on big contracts over the past decade in potential trades.
The Celtics are big fans of Kornet though so a no-trade clause is their only real weapon they can offer him that other teams can’t. Ultimately, if stability matters more to Kornet and his family, the promise of staying put in Boston long-term could be more enticing than a far bigger payday in San Antonio or Los Angeles with more uncertainty about the future.
There is risk for any team giving out a no-trade clause (trade kickers have become much more popular as a replacement in recent years) but a modest Kornet salary for several years should age well for the Celtics’ books.
More importantly, Boston doesn’t have any good alternatives in the pipeline if Horford and Kornet leave. Boston’s current depth chart at center is Neemias Queta, Xavier Tillman and two-way center Amari Williams and Boston isn’t going to have any salary cap space in the future any time soon if they keep this core. Veteran’s minimum deals and trades would be the only way to fill the void.
Kornet’s situation will likely play out this week, but if he ends up returning to Boston on a favorable contract, don’t be surprised if the Celtics’ giving Kornet control over his future ends up being what gets a deal done.