On Saturday, Rockets center Steven Adams agreed to a contract deal with the team, setting off the first domino effect of the free agency big market. According to Shams Charania of ESPN.com, the veteran has agreed to a new three-year contract for $39 million, which won’t be finalized until the start of the new league year next month. Additionally, the bargain is completely guaranteed.
In a hard-fought seven-game series defeat to the Warriors in postseason, the 32-year-old Adams, who was acquired by the Rockets in a deal in February 2024, recovered from an injury sustained the previous season to play a crucial role off the bench.
He grabbed 3.3 offensive rebounds per game in 22 minutes during the playoffs as Ime Udoka utilized a double big look with him regularly for top-notch defense.
Adams will get a slight raise in his new deal which is fascinating when it comes to the market awaiting free agent Celtics centers like Al Horford and Luke Kornet as they hit the open market. Horford’s future remains an open question mark after he pivoted on his stance about returning for one more season in Boston in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear and a second-round exit for Boston. Kornet is set to hit free agency after his best season in Boston, posting 6.0 points and 5.3 rebounds over 73 games.
Following their team’s postseason success, several of the more well-known players on this list (Randle, Reid, Turner) need to aim for far more than a mid-level exemption. Beyond them, Kornet and Horford may still be among the more desirable names on this list, attracting bids from possible suitors for at least the taxpayer mid-level exemption (or more). In times of financial hardship, it will be interesting to see how much the Celtics are ready to pay either player beyond the veteran’s minimum, although Boston cutting money elsewhere will make it more likely.
Boston still holds Bird Rights on Horford and Kornet, so they can offer them any salary they want once free agency begins. Otherwise, Boston will only have veteran minimum contracts to offer free agent bigs from other teams. The team could also look to the NBA Draft and trades to fill a frontcourt void if Horford or Kornet does not return.
