Latest news with #Kornet
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Grading Luke Kornet's $41 million Spurs contract
The post Grading Luke Kornet's $41 million Spurs contract appeared first on ClutchPoints. The San Antonio Spurs started NBA Free Agency by addressing the team's biggest singular need. Shortly after the league lifted the offseason moratorium, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the Silver and Black had agreed to terms with Luke Kornet. The Spurs are coming off the heels of 34-48 and 22-60 seasons. So while they have several needs, there is none bigger than another quality big man to pair with and/or spell center Victor Wembanyama. At the end of last season – without Wemby because of injury – the Spurs were starting 6-foot-8 Bismack Biyombo at center. The only other 'big' who was part of the rotation by then was Sandro Mamukelashvili, who stands 6-foot-9, but prefers to play at the perimeter. Charles Bassey, who's played sparingly for the better part of the last two years while batting injuries, was also on the roster at year's end. The team traded Zach Collins in the deal for De'Aaron Fox in February. By those standards, Kornet represents an upgrade. To what extent is the question. Luke Kornet's path to the Spurs Kornet is coming off the most well-rounded season of his career. In playing 73 games for a defending champion Boston Celtics squad that was again one of the best in the league, the former Vanderbilt Commodore averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 1.6 assists per contest. His rebound and assist numbers marked career highs while the 6.0 ppg were just a point below his second year when he suited up for the New York Knicks. Set to enter his ninth NBA season, Kornet joined New York as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Following a two-year stint that included a two-way contract, the 7-foot-1 center signed with the Chicago Bulls in 2019. After a 2021 trade sent him to the Celtics, Kornet spent the '21-'22 campaign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and back in Boston. Since then, the Lexington, Kentucky, native has developed into a solid big man. He appeared in 76 games total (including 13 in the playoffs), averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in the regular season, to help the Celtics win the NBA championship in 2023-'24. Grading the Spurs' Luke Kornet signing What does the Celtics best player think of Kornet's deal with the Spurs? 'Much deserved,' Jayson Tatum posted on Instagram. Kornet, who played his high school ball in the Texas town of Argyle, returned to Boston last offseason despite other contract offers. With the Spurs deal comes the ability to rebound (especially offensively) and set screens. He's a smart player who reads offensive and defensive assignments and can start the break. While there's early thought that the Spurs will continue to start Wembanyama at center and, thus, bring Kornet off the bench, Kornet could also play well with Wemby given their contrasting skill sets. At four years for $41 million, it appears to be a reasonable contract that the Spurs could easily afford given their salary cap position. It's not the splash that other moves have been, but it could prove an effective one for San Antonio, especially given what they've lacked. Grade: B Related: Carter Bryant's Spurs contract creates first 'crazy' NBA moment Related: Dylan Harper's 'surreal' NBA journey begins with Spurs rookie contract
Nahar Net
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Smuggling attempts to Hezbollah increasing via Syria, report says
Tehran is reportedly making new efforts to arm its allies including Hezbollah across the Middle East. Senior fellow at the Washington Institute for near east policy Michael Knights said that "Iran is rebuilding its presence in the Levant by sending missiles to Hezbollah and weapons from Iraq to Syria". Smuggling attempts to Hezbollah are increasing via Syria, though a hostile government in Damascus has crimped the arms pipeline, said Michael Cardash, the former deputy head of the Israeli National Police Bomb Disposal Division, adding that traffickers have now to smuggle arms in small shipments instead of sending truckloads. The Wall Street Journal said Hezbollah is now manufacturing its own drones and medium-range rockets and has somewhat rebuilt its smuggling networks. The group has managed to smuggle in some Kornet missiles and other advanced weapons, the American newspaper said. The Israeli army meanwhile claimed that Hezbollah is attempting to rebuild its capabilities in several locations. The statement came after separate Israeli strikes on south Lebanon killed four people including a woman Thursday. Last month, Syria's new government said it seized a number of weapons cargoes, including Grad rockets mounted on trucks along its borders with Iraq and Lebanon, while fighters allied to Yemen's exiled government had claimed Wednesday they had seized 750 tons of Iranian-supplied missiles and weaponry bound for the country's Houthi rebels.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Luke Kornet, Luka Garza moves highlight Celtics' new cap reality
The post Luke Kornet, Luka Garza moves highlight Celtics' new cap reality appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 offseason was expected to be a busy one for the Boston Celtics, and the start of free agency confirmed that. On Monday night, former Celtics center and fan favorite Luke Kornet agreed to a four-year, $41 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs, per ESPN insider Shams Charania. Less than an hour after Kornet's departure, Charania reported that Boston nabbed a replacement, bringing in 26-year-old center Luka Garza for $5.5 million over two years. Advertisement These moves shouldn't be a complete shock for Celtics fans, as Kornet upped his value by overachieving during the 2024-25 season, averaging six points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in a career-high 18.6 minutes per game. Although Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens wasn't shy about wanting Kornet back, it couldn't have been for the price the Spurs delivered. The Celtics recently ducked under the second apron after trading away veteran guard Jrue Holiday and center Kristaps Porzingis. Paying Kornet around $40 million would've reversed all of that financial maneuvering. The backup big earned just a little over $2 million last season, making it unlikely that he'd agree to another short-term, vet minimum deal. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Who is Luka Garza? And what's next for the Celtics at center? Since Boston couldn't afford Kornet's new price, it shifted its attention to the open market and found Garza. Advertisement Any college basketball enthusiast should recognize the 6-foot-10 big man. Garza won the prestigious John R. Wooden Award in 2021 for being the best player in the NCAA. He shined at Iowa for four years before declaring for the NBA, starting his professional career with the Detroit Pistons. The late second-round pick, similarly to Kornet, had to fight his way into the Association via the G League. He did so with the Motor City Cruise in 2022 while on a two-way contract, going up to the 'big leagues' every now and then to play a total of 32 NBA games that season. Garza's next official stop was with the Minnesota Timberwolves at the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign. There, he spent time on another two-way contract until April of 2024, when he finally earned a standard contract in order to join the Timberwolves' playoff roster. While Garza played in less than 100 games over the course of three seasons with the T-Wolves, his body of work was enough to impress the Celtics. Plus, and perhaps most importantly, Boston could pay him without breaking the bank. Advertisement The C's now employ three true centers in Garza, 25-year-old Neemias Queta, and rookie Amari Williams. None of these big men have much NBA experience, so Boston's hunt for a solution at the five spot may continue, whether it be through a signing or a trade. The front office would love to bring back free agent center Al Horford and have Garza, Queta, and Williams learn under him. However, the future Hall of Famer could — like Kornet — command a lot of money in free agency. There are already rumors tying Horford to the Golden State Warriors, and the Celtics might not have the funds to prevail in a bidding war. If Boston is unable to re-sign its oldest player, it'll have to quickly pivot to other options or prepare for an uncertain, experimental preseason. Related: NBA rumors: Warriors, Celtics among several Al Horford suitors in free agency Related: Why Kevin Garnett questions Celtics trading away Jrue Holiday
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Luke Kornet's Boston Celtics exit is now official
It's official: Luke Kornet has signed with the San Antonio Spurs. The franchise released the information regarding his deal on Monday, July 7, marking his arrival with the Texas-based franchise. According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, Kornet's deal is structured to decline in value throughout the four years. His initial season will pay $11 million, followed by $10.45 million, $9.9 million (with $2.55 million non-guaranteed) and finally $9.35 million non-guaranteed. Kornet's contract with San Antonio marks a significant pay rise for the 2024 championship-winning center. Over the past two years, he's proven to be one of the best backup bigs in the NBA. By moving to the Spurs, he will provide genuine support for Victor Wembanyama while also ensuring the Spurs front line has considerable size across the board. Kornet played in 73 games for the Boston Celtics last season. He averaged six points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 66.8% from the field. However, most of his impact came outside of the boxscore, with his screening, short-roll creation and rim-protection all creating a positive contribution. With Al Horford yet to make a decision regarding his free agency, Kornet's departure, and Kristaps Porzingis' trade to the Atlanta Hawks, the Celtics frontcourt is looking rather thin. Brad Stevens still has enough time to make some further moves, if he deems necessary, though. Watch the "Taylor Talks Celtics" podcast on: YouTube: Website:
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Luke Kornet had a perfect (pandering) reason for choosing Spurs' No. 7 jersey
The San Antonio Spurs are forming quite a formidable frontcourt. Former No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama is on track to become the player he was billed to be, earning All-Star honors for the first time in 2025 despite being shut down in February due to blood clots. Now, San Antonio is adding a solid role player in center Luke Kornet, who agreed to a four-year, $41 million contract with the Spurs at the start of the free agency period last week. The 29-year-old former NBA champion with the Boston Celtics averaged six points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists (the latter two marks being career-highs) while starting 16 games and appearing in 73. Kornet's 18.6 minutes per game with the Celtics in 2024-25 was also the most in his career. Kornet was formally introduced as a member of the Spurs on Monday, and he didn't take long to attempt to ingratiate himself with the fanbase. Asked why he's choosing to wear No. 7, Kornet gave a perfect (if slightly pandering) answer. He said he would like to be at least a third as good as Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, who played his entire 19-year career with the Spurs and wore No. 21. Kornet also added that he "loves multiples and factors," according to Nate Ryan of KENS in San Antonio. Kornet certainly knows how to tug at the heartstrings of Spurs fans, but the former undrafted player in 2017 will also hope to impress them with his play on the court after turning in what was arguably the most productive season of his eight-year career. The Spurs are coming off six-straight losing seasons, though their 34-48 finish last season was a 12-game improvement from its 22-60 records in the prior two campaigns. San Antonio hasn't reached the postseason since 2019, but with Kornet joining a young core that includes Wembanyama, last season's Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, it hopes to change that in 2025-26.
