Unlikely big man is becoming Celtics star of preseason

On Saturday, Kornet turned in a high-level performance as the Celtics decimated the Philadelphia 76ers' second-string team. His ability to make passing reads out of the short roll, create space through his screening, space the floor as a weak-side slot presence and defend the rim as a drop-defender were all on display throughout the night. 

"Luke knows how to play, being in the right place at the right time," Jaylen Brown said in his postgame news conference. "Being able to find him and get him going, helps our offense and everyone get easy ones. So, we look forward to Luke being able to step up and make plays on both ends. He's a big part of our offense." 

Kornet ended the night with 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists, shooting 7-for-10 from the field. His movement has become a core part of how Boston uses its non-shooting bigs within a five-out offense, often leaning on Kornet's ability to initiate dribble hand-off actions around the perimeter. 

However, Mazzulla believes Kornet's contributions on the defensive end are often overlooked. When speaking to the media on Saturday, he cited Kornet as being one of the team's best defenders due to his ability to read the game and vocalize coverages.

"He's worked really hard this summer and I've definitely seen him get better," Mazzulla said, per Justin Turpin of WEEI. "His screen reads, his spacing recognition. He's one of our best defenders because of his ability to communicate on the fly. ...I think he's gotten really better offensively up to this point. ...He continues to get better and better."

When you have the level of depth the Celtics do, you can afford to be fluid with your starting lineups. With Porzingis being sidelined, it's possible that Horford and Kornet take turns suiting up with the starting five.

Nevertheless, leaning on Kornet makes sense. Horford is entering his age-38 season. Finding ways to keep him fresh for the postseason will be imperative. He's one of the most important pieces of the rotation, both as a versatile two-way contributor and a vocal leader on the court. 

Kornet's improvements have given Mazzulla a welcomed headache. He's capable of being the starting center within the Celtics system. If that means allowing Horford to play a contained role with fewer minutes for stretches of the season, it may be a change worth exploring. After all, keeping the roster healthy is a key aspect to retaining the title of NBA champions next summer.