Luke Kornet's Development of a Floater Could Enhance Spurs' Playoff Performance

Luke Kornet, now 31, has established himself as a reliable inside scorer for the San Antonio Spurs. However, his athletic limitations and age may restrict his defensive upside. To become a more effective playoff contributor, Kornet could benefit from adding a floater to his offensive repertoire, a relatively simple skill that could significantly impact his scoring ability.

Kornet's shooting profile is heavily focused on close-range attempts, with 291 of his 330 field goal attempts coming from the restricted area. While this strategy has allowed him to maximize his offensive rebounding, it also makes him predictable, especially in postseason play where rim protection is typically stronger. His shooting percentage dropped from 65.9% to 61.2% in the playoffs, highlighting the challenges he faced when defenses tightened around the basket.

Despite Kornet's primary value being his defensive contributions, the Spurs' offensive struggles were evident during his time on the court. The team scored over 10 points fewer per 100 possessions with him playing, indicating that his scoring limitations may have affected the second unit's effectiveness. While some of this can be attributed to poor perimeter shot creation, Kornet's inability to score outside of close range became a liability.

The potential for a reliable floater could change the dynamics of Kornet's game. Similar to Isaiah Hartenstein, who successfully utilized a mid-range shot to become a scoring threat, Kornet could find opportunities to score when defenders sag off him. Historically, the Spurs have benefited from players like Jakob Poeltl, who used a floater to exploit defensive lapses.

While Kornet should continue to excel as a dive man, developing a floater could force defenses to adjust, potentially opening up opportunities for his teammates. However, whether he can effectively transition into this role remains to be seen, as it would require him to demonstrate the ability to score from mid-range consistently.