Bargain bin free agents for the Miami Heat to target: Luke Kornet
Luke Kornet showed some real promise last year during his time with the Celtics. He’s a big man that can shoot the ball, and the Miami Heat really need one of those on the roster.
The 7-2 center was traded from the Bulls to the Celtics at the trade deadline last year. Though his averages may not show it, he showed flashes of being a solid rotational player during his time in Boston.
In the 18 games he played for the Celtics, Kornet averaged 4.4 points, 2.9 pounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He shot 47.3% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range.
While that percentage may not seem great, he has shown the ability to shoot the ball well in the past. When he played with the Knicks a few years ago, he shot 36.3% from deep on 4.2 attempts per game.
In addition to that, Kornet showed that he can be a solid defender last year in Boston. He defends the pick n’ roll well and his long wingspan allows him to block a decent amount of shots.
Boston likely won’t look to bring him back, and if that’s the case, there probably won’t be a huge market for him. With their limited cap space, the Miami Heat could look to sign him on a minimum contract.
Even if he doesn’t get a ton of minutes with Bam Adebayo and another backup center ahead of him, he would be able to play a role when needed.
Having a big man that can stretch the floor on the roster is very important. The Miami Heat could sign one for very cheap with Kornet.