The Celtics' hopes of keeping Luke Kornet stem from what's easiest to forget

The Boston Celtics having Luke Kornet's Bird Rights are essential to their hopes of retaining the free-agent center this summer.

Here's how HoopsHype describes this exception, named after Celtics' legend and a member of basketball's pantheon, Larry Bird.

"In 1983, the NBA's collective bargaining agreement (CBA) called for the league's first-ever salary cap, which would limit the cash amount teams could spend on players' salaries," explains HoopsHype. "Rather than institute a 'hard cap,' which would strictly prohibit teams from going above a certain salary limit, the NBA chose a "soft cap" with a handful of exceptions.

"With the contract of Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird expiring at the end of the 1983 season, giving the budding star his first chance to test free agency, the most notable exception to this salary cap was the Qualifying Veterans Free Agent Exception. This 'Bird' Exception, as it came to be known, gave free agents Bird Rights to incentivize negotiating with their existing team."

As the Celtics navigate financial constraints, the seven-foot-two center figures to have more lucrative offers elsewhere this summer. Kornet's current team will cling to the possibility he and his family prioritize comfort, stability, and building on the success he has had in Boston. Having his Bird Rights is an advantage that shrinks the gap in earning potential and gives the Celtics a pathway to re-sign him.

Luke Kornet returns to free agency after a career year

When NBA free agency officially got underway last summer, the first name of the board was Kornet's. The seven-foot-two center passed on more lucrative opportunities elsewhere to stay in Boston.

That worked out better than many probably anticipated. Kornet delivered a career year. He averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per contest.

He ranked fourth in net rating [14.9] and eighth in true shooting percentage [68.3 percent]. He finished the regular season in ninth in offensive rating [121.2], offensive rebounding percentage [13.4 percent], and effective field goal percentage [66.8 percent]. Kornet was 16th in defensive rating [106.3].

The pick-and-roll combination of him as the screener and Jayson Tatum as the ball-handler became one of the most lethal in the NBA.

"It's just kind of based on where the pickup points [are], based on what he's kind of seeing against them, and what the big is kind of looking like, and what they're switching and just kind of what advantage or disadvantage you can have," Kornet told Hardwood Houdini during an in-season conversation about the potency of that pairing and an underappreciated pillar of Boston's offense.

"The leap that he's took or taken this year, and what he's provided off the bench and the nights that he's had to start," Tatum told Hardwood Houdini in April. "Our connection in the pick-and-roll, and I am in constant communication and in talks during the game, on off days and whatever.

"And Luke just has a great feel for the game. He's such a selfless player. He's always looking to get me open, off-ball, on-ball, and I trust him so much," continued Tatum, effusive in his praise for Kornet. "It's been one of the more successful things for our team this year. Me and Luke on the floor together and being in actions together."

What Luke Kornet's free-agent market might look like

Kornet figures to have an abundance of suitors and plenty of opportunities to become a full-time starting center. That could even happen in Boston, depending on the futures of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

The Vanderbilt product spent last season on a veteran minimum deal worth $2.1 million. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports, "After thoroughly outplaying his current contract, Kornet is expected to earn a substantial pay raise and have a robust market this summer among various teams who have the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to spend."

The non-taxpayer mid-level exception is worth $14.1 million for the 2025-26 campaign. While it's likely unrealistic for the Celtics to stretch that far, especially if their goal is to get under the second apron, having his Bird Rights allows Boston to make a more competitive offer than it could otherwise. That could be the difference in whether Kornet re-signs.