Sign Al Horford or Luke Kornet

[djFan71]

I wonder whether the Celtics could re-sign both Horford and Kornet for taxpayer MLE kinds of numbers each. (Using Bird Rights, of course, but matching the bids of MLE-offering teams.)

Maybe they wouldn't want to go to any team that could offer more money than that.

That's kinda where I land / hope for. Al won't wanna go to a non-contender, assumedly. So over TPMLE is unlikely. I doubt a team really tries to steal Luke for more than that either. Get both for ~$6M each and you're basically at what they make combined this year. Add a little for inflation, call it a summer. If you try to go below TPMLE on either, the prospect of them leaving increases quite a bit.

[ConstableGeneva]

Turning Al Horford‘s $9.5MM salary slot into a minimum-salary player next season would help the Celtics with their cap/tax situation, but the club likely wouldn’t welcome that possibility if it means losing Horford. Assuming the big man wants to continue his career, there are rival cap strategists who believe his market could start around the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.7MM), Fischer writes.

Source: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/03/celtics-rumors-holiday-porzingis-white-horford-ownership.html

[playa-hater]

I think Al is definitely built better for the playoffs While Kornet gets the nod for the regular season. But Kornet keeps upping his value with these games such as tonight against the SAS. 15 +16 etc..

I am starting to think Kornet will get nothing less than 12 million per..

This is a very interesting off-season coming for sure.

[fallguy]

Luke: Dominant. Haters: Clueless.

[cl2117]

I wonder whether the Celtics could re-sign both Horford and Kornet for taxpayer MLE kinds of numbers each. (Using Bird Rights, of course, but matching the bids of MLE-offering teams.)

Maybe they wouldn't want to go to any team that could offer more money than that.

That's kinda where I land / hope for. Al won't wanna go to a non-contender, assumedly. So over TPMLE is unlikely. I doubt a team really tries to steal Luke for more than that either. Get both for ~$6M each and you're basically at what they make combined this year. Add a little for inflation, call it a summer. If you try to go below TPMLE on either, the prospect of them leaving increases quite a bit.

I think the risk of Horford leaving is pretty damn low. He's gone that route before and it blew up in his face, doubt he risks it again for his swan song.

Taxpayer MLE is $5.2m, 10+ year vet minimum is $3.6m. I don't think Horford walks over $1.6m (especially if C's offer him a 2nd year still at the minimum, which is what I would do). If he's getting a $10m plus offer, which for 1 year I don't think is impossible either, maybe he walks but even then there is no chance he's going to a better situation than what we've got here so still tough for him to pull the trigger. C's save such a ridiculous amount of money between less taxes and penalties and then the NBA picking up the difference between the minimum and the vet min that I don't think it ultimately leaves too bad a taste in Horford's mouth (especially if he's getting a Haslem-esque deal of sticking around on the minimum until the wheels literally fall off).

I think Kornet gets a couple offers at taxpayer MLE or higher and then it'll be optically hard to squeeze Horford but pay Luke. I know he's got a ceiling to his game but coaches for pretty much every NBA team can look at the consistent floor he brings and I think more than a few will pay for that regular season consistency for the next 2-3 years.

[playa-hater]

Regardless of Contract, I am guessing no one sees Al just out right retiring if Boston wins the title??

Would be a nice way to go out methinks.

[playa-hater]

I wonder whether the Celtics could re-sign both Horford and Kornet for taxpayer MLE kinds of numbers each. (Using Bird Rights, of course, but matching the bids of MLE-offering teams.)

Maybe they wouldn't want to go to any team that could offer more money than that.

That's kinda where I land / hope for. Al won't wanna go to a non-contender, assumedly. So over TPMLE is unlikely. I doubt a team really tries to steal Luke for more than that either. Get both for ~$6M each and you're basically at what they make combined this year. Add a little for inflation, call it a summer. If you try to go below TPMLE on either, the prospect of them leaving increases quite a bit.

I think the risk of Horford leaving is pretty damn low. He's gone that route before and it blew up in his face, doubt he risks it again for his swan song.

Taxpayer MLE is $5.2m, 10+ year vet minimum is $3.6m. I don't think Horford walks over $1.6m (especially if C's offer him a 2nd year still at the minimum, which is what I would do). If he's getting a $10m plus offer, which for 1 year I don't think is impossible either, maybe he walks but even then there is no chance he's going to a better situation than what we've got here so still tough for him to pull the trigger. C's save such a ridiculous amount of money between less taxes and penalties and then the NBA picking up the difference between the minimum and the vet min that I don't think it ultimately leaves too bad a taste in Horford's mouth (especially if he's getting a Haslem-esque deal of sticking around on the minimum until the wheels literally fall off).

I think Kornet gets a couple offers at taxpayer MLE or higher and then it'll be optically hard to squeeze Horford but pay Luke. I know he's got a ceiling to his game but coaches for pretty much every NBA team can look at the consistent floor he brings and I think more than a few will pay for that regular season consistency for the next 2-3 years.

I think the biggest indicator of Kornet's future contract will be how he plays in the playoffs. What if he struggles?? Does he even play more than spot minutes?? Or what if he excels in the biggest spotlight?

[shackles10]

He won’t get paid like that but how much worse is Kornet than iHart? Honestly it’s crazy to even consider that comparison is even remotely possible for a guy we either couldn’t wait to get rid of or wasn’t looked at as more than end of the bench material. Him becoming so much more physical has made all the difference.

[cl2117]

That's kinda where I land / hope for. Al won't wanna go to a non-contender, assumedly. So over TPMLE is unlikely. I doubt a team really tries to steal Luke for more than that either. Get both for ~$6M each and you're basically at what they make combined this year. Add a little for inflation, call it a summer. If you try to go below TPMLE on either, the prospect of them leaving increases quite a bit.

I think the risk of Horford leaving is pretty damn low. He's gone that route before and it blew up in his face, doubt he risks it again for his swan song.

Taxpayer MLE is $5.2m, 10+ year vet minimum is $3.6m. I don't think Horford walks over $1.6m (especially if C's offer him a 2nd year still at the minimum, which is what I would do). If he's getting a $10m plus offer, which for 1 year I don't think is impossible either, maybe he walks but even then there is no chance he's going to a better situation than what we've got here so still tough for him to pull the trigger. C's save such a ridiculous amount of money between less taxes and penalties and then the NBA picking up the difference between the minimum and the vet min that I don't think it ultimately leaves too bad a taste in Horford's mouth (especially if he's getting a Haslem-esque deal of sticking around on the minimum until the wheels literally fall off).

I think Kornet gets a couple offers at taxpayer MLE or higher and then it'll be optically hard to squeeze Horford but pay Luke. I know he's got a ceiling to his game but coaches for pretty much every NBA team can look at the consistent floor he brings and I think more than a few will pay for that regular season consistency for the next 2-3 years.

I think the biggest indicator of Kornet's future contract will be how he plays in the playoffs. What if he struggles?? Does he even play more than spot minutes?? Or what if he excels in the biggest spotlight?

It feels a bit stupid to say but I don't know how much his playoff performance is going to impact his market.

If he plays really well, I think front offices are going to struggle to declare this his coming out party as opposed to thriving on a stacked team. Plus competitive teams are going to be hamstrung by cap limitations while rebuilding teams aren't going to want to invest all that much into a guy who is likely operating towards his ceiling. So maybe he gets the room exception ($8.1m) vs. the TPMLE ($5.2m) but I don't think it's going to be that much more than that.

If he plays really poorly, competitive teams might discount him a bit, but if you're a coach trying to right the ship or get his team to take a next step, his regular season play has been good enough that I think a lot will be already sold on his impact. His consistency, in particularly being in the right spot at the right time, combined with his positive locker room presence and relatively cheap overall cost is going to be enough that I think he lands multiple offers at the TPMLE or even higher for 2-3 seasons. And if your a team competing with frontcourt needs, he's still shown he can help you rack up regular season wins even if he struggles come playoff time, so there's value in that regardless.

[Fencer reregistered]

Reminder: Cheap contracts can be sweetened a bit by player options.

[djFan71]

I wonder whether the Celtics could re-sign both Horford and Kornet for taxpayer MLE kinds of numbers each. (Using Bird Rights, of course, but matching the bids of MLE-offering teams.)

Maybe they wouldn't want to go to any team that could offer more money than that.

That's kinda where I land / hope for. Al won't wanna go to a non-contender, assumedly. So over TPMLE is unlikely. I doubt a team really tries to steal Luke for more than that either. Get both for ~$6M each and you're basically at what they make combined this year. Add a little for inflation, call it a summer. If you try to go below TPMLE on either, the prospect of them leaving increases quite a bit.

I think the risk of Horford leaving is pretty damn low. He's gone that route before and it blew up in his face, doubt he risks it again for his swan song.

I tend to think this as well. But, you just never know. Tough to rely on. The difference from his vet min amount (given years served) to the TPMLE is only like $2Mish. On top of what he's already made, easy to say just take the min. But it's his money vs the owners taxes, so why should it be him to sacrifice? Esp when he is producing at least at the TPMLE level, if not more, and has been a bargain the last 2 years already.

[playa-hater]

I think the risk of Horford leaving is pretty damn low. He's gone that route before and it blew up in his face, doubt he risks it again for his swan song.

Taxpayer MLE is $5.2m, 10+ year vet minimum is $3.6m. I don't think Horford walks over $1.6m (especially if C's offer him a 2nd year still at the minimum, which is what I would do). If he's getting a $10m plus offer, which for 1 year I don't think is impossible either, maybe he walks but even then there is no chance he's going to a better situation than what we've got here so still tough for him to pull the trigger. C's save such a ridiculous amount of money between less taxes and penalties and then the NBA picking up the difference between the minimum and the vet min that I don't think it ultimately leaves too bad a taste in Horford's mouth (especially if he's getting a Haslem-esque deal of sticking around on the minimum until the wheels literally fall off).

I think Kornet gets a couple offers at taxpayer MLE or higher and then it'll be optically hard to squeeze Horford but pay Luke. I know he's got a ceiling to his game but coaches for pretty much every NBA team can look at the consistent floor he brings and I think more than a few will pay for that regular season consistency for the next 2-3 years.

I think the biggest indicator of Kornet's future contract will be how he plays in the playoffs. What if he struggles?? Does he even play more than spot minutes?? Or what if he excels in the biggest spotlight?

It feels a bit stupid to say but I don't know how much his playoff performance is going to impact his market.

If he plays really well, I think front offices are going to struggle to declare this his coming out party as opposed to thriving on a stacked team. Plus competitive teams are going to be hamstrung by cap limitations while rebuilding teams aren't going to want to invest all that much into a guy who is likely operating towards his ceiling. So maybe he gets the room exception ($8.1m) vs. the TPMLE ($5.2m) but I don't think it's going to be that much more than that.

If he plays really poorly, competitive teams might discount him a bit, but if you're a coach trying to right the ship or get his team to take a next step, his regular season play has been good enough that I think a lot will be already sold on his impact. His consistency, in particularly being in the right spot at the right time, combined with his positive locker room presence and relatively cheap overall cost is going to be enough that I think he lands multiple offers at the TPMLE or even higher for 2-3 seasons. And if your a team competing with frontcourt needs, he's still shown he can help you rack up regular season wins even if he struggles come playoff time, so there's value in that regardless.

There is definitely truth to your statement. But I know so many people remember. What you do last and last for us will be playoffs, so who knows.

[redslastlaugh]

I agree with the posters who say the playoffs will have a big say in this.
Last regular season Kornet+Tatum was a net rating +17 per 100 possessions
But, the playoffs, Luke+JT was a net rating -1
If Luke is a net minus playoff player again, then I'd only offer another one year vet minimum contract and he'd be likely to leave because other teams who need a big for the regular season would surely offer more.

So that's a big WE'LL SEE from me. If Luke shows he's improved his physicality to the point that his positive reg season metrics carry over to the playoffs, then I'd try to free up resources to bring Luke back for more money. Playoffs will be huge for Luke's next contract offer. Thats my take.

[phincsfan]

I agree with the posters who say the playoffs will have a big say in this.
Last regular season Kornet+Tatum was a net rating +17 per 100 possessions
But, the playoffs, Luke+JT was a net rating -1
If Luke is a net minus playoff player again, then I'd only offer another one year vet minimum contract and he'd be likely to leave because other teams who need a big for the regular season would surely offer more.

So that's a big WE'LL SEE from me. If Luke shows he's improved his physicality to the point that his positive reg season metrics carry over to the playoffs, then I'd try to free up resources to bring Luke back for more money. Playoffs will be huge for Luke's next contract offer. Thats my take.

Double big will be in full effect this year

[ConstableGeneva]

Smart teams shouldn’t be using net rating in playoffs as basis for anything. It’s a small sample. Even smaller for bench guys like Luke. Even smaller when you’re looking at lineup combos.

As a Cs fan, I do hope other teams don’t view Luke as anything more than a 4th big so Cs could keep him for cheap again although as a human being, go get your bag Luke.