Celtics retain bench player in first signing of NBA free agency
NBA free agency officially began at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Boston Celtics struck first, re-signing center Luke Kornet on a one-year deal.
The Boston Celtics aren’t wasting much time putting a roster together as they look to repeat as NBA champions in 2024-2025. NBA free agency officially began at 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, and it was the Celtics making the first move.
Right at 6:00, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Celtics have re-signed center Luke Kornet. That makes Kornet’s signing the first official move of NBA free agency.
Kornet, 28, is getting a one-year deal from the Celtics, per Wojnarowski. The financial details of the contract were not immediately reported.
After going undrafted in 2017 out of Vanderbilt Kornet played for five teams (including a brief stop with the Celtics) over his first five NBA seasons. He finally caught on in a regular role with the Celtics for the 2022-2023 season.
![BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 07: Luke Kornet #40 of the Boston Celtics blocks a shot from Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round Playoffs at TD Garden on May 07, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2024/05/GettyImages-2151959760_.jpg?w=1024)
Last year was a career year for the 7-foot-1 Kornet. He played in 63 games making seven starts, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.6 minutes per game. In the playoffs Kornet appeared in 13 games.
Heading into next season Kornet’s role could grow again, especially early. The Celtics will need center depth with Kristaps Porzingis expected to miss the start of the year after undergoing leg surgery.
With Kornet re-signed the Celtics have four remaining unrestricted free agents from last year’s team in forwards Oshae Brissett, Xavier Tillman, Svi Mykhailiuk, and guard J.D. Davison. They also have two restricted free agents, center Neemias Queta and forward Drew Peterson.
Keep scrolling for more on the Celtics’ offseason…