The Boston Celtics face a challenging offseason with financial constraints looming large.
With Boston's front office grappling with massive taxes and the expected absence of star Jayson Tatum for all of 2025-26, all eyes are on the Celtics' roster decisions.
One player, a reliable big man who made waves in the postseason, could be on the move, and the Atlanta Hawks might be the team to capitalize.
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently weighed in on the situation, discussing the player’s standout performance and market value.
Pincus noted, “At almost 30, Luke Kornet may have made some money for himself in the playoffs for the ‘Kornet Game,’ in which he blocked seven shots to help Boston win Game 5 over the New York Knicks (before the Jayson-Tatum-less Celtics eventually fell)."
"Kornet may not be a starter," Pincus continued, "but he’s shown throughout the last few years that he’s a viable rotation center who can provide a defensive presence. That might be enough for a team to pay more than Boston can or will, especially with the Celtics facing massive repeater taxes, in a year when Tatum (Achilles) is unlikely to suit up. Prediction: The BAE may be enough for the Atlanta Hawks to pry him away from the Celtics.”
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Kornet, a fan favorite in Boston, has quietly built a case for a bigger payday.
As noted by Pincus, Atlanta, looking to bolster its frontcourt depth, could utilize the Bi-Annual Exception (BAE) to offer a deal Boston may struggle to match. The Celtics’ luxury tax concerns, combined with the need to prioritize their core, could force them to let Kornet walk.
At 30, Kornet is in his prime, and his playoff heroics have put him on the radar of teams seeking cost-effective bigs. The Hawks, with their young core and need for veteran presence, seem like a natural fit.
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