Luke Kornet signing four-year deal with San Antonio Spurs

Luke Kornet is leaving Boston. According to ESPN, Kornet is signing a four-year, $41 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, a deal that is worth nearly triple his career earnings to date. 

Karalis' Analysis: 

It's certainly not a surprise that Kornet got a big payday after last year. He's proven himself to be very good in this role and an exceptional teammate. To get more than $10 million per year when he's made $14 million to this point is pretty incredible for him, and it's a no-brainer for him to leave.

It's been clear over the past few days that Boston is way too cost conscious to lay out big money for Kornet. Even if they were willing to get up to $10 million on short years, they were never going to go four years out on a deal of that magnitude. 

This obviously leaves Boston extraordinarily thin at center after the Kristaps Porzingis trade. Al Horford has been rumored to be a top target for Golden State, which makes even more sense after Kevon Looney agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans today. The Celtics did agree to a two year, $5.5 million deal with Luka Garza to help fortify the front court, but there's is more to do. The only other center under contract is Neemias Queta. 

There are obviously more moves to be made, so there is a possibility Boston can address this need either through free agency or via trade. They are still shopping Anfernee Simons, so there is a chance that potential trade could bring back a starting center. 

Kornet will fit well with the Spurs, and he's going to an organization with similar values as the Celtics. He will serve as a championship-winning mentor and an example of the hard work necessary to go from two-way contracts to significant payday. Kornet has worked tirelessly to become this kind of player, and at 29-years-old, this was probably his last chance to get this kind of money. He will back up Victor Wembanyama nicely and surely pass along some valuable nuggets learned along his NBA journey.

More than anything, this shows just how scary the second apron is to teams. Boston could have signed Kornet to the same number, but it would have required more maneuvering to get back under the apron. It's obvious they are not interested in that kind of financial juggling. Kornet is good, and he's a tremendous person to have in the locker room. Allowing him to walk on what would otherwise be a perfectly reasonable contract for a backup center is indicative of how punitive this CBA is.