The Boston Celtics' 2024-25 season ended with a whimper on Friday night. Jayson Tatum's injury was too much to overcome as the Celtics fell 119-81 to the New York Knicks in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden, officially beginning their offseason.
The Celtics roster will likely see a massive overhaul this summer. They're in the unenviable position of carrying a significant tax burden with a star who has a long-term recovery window and very few options to retool the roster without big changes. Boston's offseason is going to be one to pay close attention to even for casual fans.
De facto general manager Brad Stevens also has a few of his own free agents he needs to consider. The Celtics were built for a four-year window, which appears to have closed for at least the 2025-26 season. Because of that, the only unrestricted free agents on the roster are Torrey Craig, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet.
Of the trio, Horford was a centerpiece of the Celtics for almost this entire championship contender window. There were some hard feelings at the end of his first stint, but it can be argued that Horford’s arrival via free agency was the catalyst for the playoff run.
The question is, how much does Horford have left in the tank?
He's a leader and has all sorts of intangibles the Celtics could lean on, but is it worth a roster spot as the team looks forward?
The Celtics may be served to use those minutes to develop a younger big man. They will likely make the playoffs, even without Tatum, because of the weakness of the Eastern Conference, but 40-year-olds generally don’t come back for the exercise. As much as it may hurt to see him go, it’s unnecessary to bring back Horford.
With that in mind, the Celtics must re-sign Kornet amid Horford's uncertain future.
The Celtics Must Focus Their Efforts On Re-Signing Luke Kornet
Kornet showed out admirably in Game 5 when the Celtics needed him the most. He was all over the place defensively, recording seven blocks, nine rebounds, and a steal while also adding 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting.
He struggled in Game 6, but so did every other Celtic. The biggest weakness the Celtics have had for most of the season has been their big men. Kristaps Porzingis' health is a huge question mark, while Horford may not return. The next big man on the roster is Neemis Queta, further highlighting the grimness of the situation.
Kornet has proved that he can provide valuable minutes all season. He can clog the lanes, provide help on the boards, and is great on defensive rotations. It also helps that he's well-liked by his teammates, coaches, and fans.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, if Porzingis is healthy enough to start and could be reliable, Kornet would be an ideal backup. The sweet spot would be playing him for around 20 minutes per game, which is good enough for a top-eight spot in the rotation.
With seemingly limited options, re-signing a rotational piece like Kornet should be a top priority for the Celtics this offseason.