11:00pm: Boston has promoted Hauser, the team announced.
6:33pm: The Celtics have officially signed Kornet, the team announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
1:47pm: The Celtics intend to sign free agent big man Luke Kornet to a rest-of-season contract and will promote Sam Hauser from his two-way deal to the 15-man roster, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Boston’s series of deadline trades left the team with just 10 players on its standard roster, plus a pair of players on two-way deals. Promoting Hauser and signing Kornet will be a first step toward replenishing the roster, though the Celtics will still have three openings on their main roster, along with one available two-way spot.
Kornet, 26, has bounced around the NBA since making his debut in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt. The forward/center has averaged 5.7 PPG and 2.6 RPG in 136 total games (15.0 MPG) for the Knicks, Bulls, Celtics, Cavaliers, and Bucks.
Kornet finished the 2020/21 season in Boston following a deadline trade and has spent much of this season with the team’s G League affiliate, the Maine Celtics. He has averaged 15.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 4.3 APG in 14 G League contests (27.1 MPG) while also spending some time in the NBA on 10-day deals with Milwaukee and Cleveland.
Hauser, meanwhile, signed a two-way contract with the Celtics last August after going undrafted out of Virginia. The 6’8″ forward has played limited minutes in 10 NBA games with Boston, but has been a G League standout, putting up 21.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 3.3 APG on .473/.412/.765 shooting in 18 games (35.1 MPG) for Maine.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said earlier today that he expecting to add a couple players before the weekend and that he was focusing on frontcourt players, ideally ones who could shoot. Kornet and Hauser fit that bill.
After trimming some salary at the deadline, the Celtics are far enough below the luxury tax line that they’ll be able to fill all their roster spots, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Loyalty is paying off big time for the Celtics & their former players! Al Horford is back as is former Defensive Player of the Year in Germany Daniel Theis who we all didn’t want to see go last year. Also Luke Kornet who the Celts chose over Mo Wagner also last year. I hear other GM’s like dealing with Brad Stevens as well! Pays to be honest, upfront, admirable. Classing up the joint! Go Celtics!
Come on Richard, you know that’s all BS
Ok, what’s wrong with loyalty? What’s wrong with being admirable? What’s wrong with being honest? President Brad Stevens is all that and smarter basketball wise than all of us. He knows Horford, he knows Theis & loyalty is bringing them back when he could. That’s class and ultimately it’s a winning formula.
You have up Schroder JRich Enes and Bruno and what 2 first round picks for White Theis and now some bums return and your happy?
Easy to please I guess
I’m delighted with Derrick White, Daniel Theis & getting under the cap. Beautiful job!
I’m sure as heck not pleased. White is a nice pick up but we gave up way too much. I liked Schroder and have always been a big Enes fan. They just never gave Enes a real chance. He’s a double double every game if he played 25 minutes. Very solid rebounder. Sorry to see him go. Theis has never impressed me.
You cant stop Kornet you can only hope to contain him.
Ha! That’s good! Can’t stop smiling!
Super value is what you get,when you buy Kornet!!
Indeed. It’s like we got Shaq in his prime! LOL
Would someone explain to me why the Celtics don’t bring Isaiah Thomas back?
Same reason no other NBA team wants him I suppose.
We all loved “Mr. 4th Quarter!”
I’ll never forget that three he made falling backwards at the foul line! Incredible year! We’ll always have those memories!
But IT is too small, ruin our defense, … etc.
He’s also never been the same since the hip injury.
He was a warrior for the Celtics and will always be held in esteem within Boston lore, but sadly he’s not going to help this team win.
Because he’s been with a couple of other teams recently and he just can’t play at an NBA level anymore?
Kornet is a sold backup big. Don’t get why he doesn’t stick with a team. Wish Knicks would of kept him. Good pickup
Interesting & encouraging comment. Luke gets little respect from anyone. Wouldn’t it be something if Luke saves Celt’s bacon?
The Green Kornet returns!!!
Love to see Cs take a flier on Gary Harris if he gets bought out.
Watching 6’4″ Derrick White play for 2 games now it’s obvious Brad Stevens was 1000% correct! White pushes the pace, is a great team ball mover, can shoot & score, defend & take charges. Knows how to play! Celts now have another very solid player. What a great pickup! Go Celtics!