Spurs keep reaping the benefits from a wildly underrated free agency move

When the San Antonio Spurs signed Luke Kornet, no one could have expected him to have such a big impact on the Spurs. In fact, he has been arguably the best free agency signing of last summer, with him helping to transform San Antonio into a contender by doing all the little things well.

Whether it be offensive rebounding, setting physical screens, or providing rim protection, he has done whatever it takes to help San Antonio win. In fact, he has been especially impactful on defense.

Many already knew that he was one of the better rim protectors in the NBA, but he has proven to be a surprisingly skilled pick-and-roll defender. Despite not being the most mobile big man in the league, he surprisingly excels at guarding the pick and roll.

Luke Kornet is fueling the Spurs' defensive renaissance

Kornet often plays drop defense, taking several steps back to cut off driving lanes while also being able to contest pull-up jumpers. Many teams with less mobile big men employ this surprisingly effective strategy, but Kornet excels at it.

The Spurs are fortunate to have Kornet as a backup for Wembanyama, who is arguably the best defensive player in the NBA. Team GM Brian Wright looks like a genius for scooping Kornet up in free agency, signing him to a deal that will pay him roughly $10 million annually.

That's despite him being a starting-caliber center who is coming off the bench. Having two defensive anchors allows for the Silver and Black to have a rim protector on the floor at all times as well as two big men who can shut down the pick and roll.

Luke Kornet has been the Spurs' unsung hero defensively

No wonder the Spurs rank third in defensive rating. Teams simply can't score consistently enough in the half court to keep up offensively. Imagine teams failing to score against Wembanyama, only to see Kornet replace him and find there's still a lid on the rim.

In many ways, Kornet is what Tiago Splitter was to Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. Kornet is a reliable center who can play either behind or alongside a star big man, similar to Splitter.

With the playoffs right around the corner, Kornet's minutes may dip as Wembanyama plays more. However, the minutes when Wembanyama sits become even more important. Fortunately, the Spurs should be in excellent hands with Kornet able to protect the paint.

All told, the Spurs have Kornet's rim protection and pick-and-roll defense partly to thank for their massive improvement on that end of the floor. With an elite defense to fall back on, the Silver and Black are well-positioned for a long playoff run.