NBA trade rumors: Kelly Olynyk drawing interest from Celtics and Heat
As Thursday’s NBA trade deadline approaches, rumors become reality as teams are either seeking to make a playoff push with a big transaction, improve their draft capital or simply unload unwanted salaries.
The former applies to the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics, who are both rumored to be interested in a reunion with Utah Jazz big man Kelly Olynyk, according to Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com.
Olynyk, who started his career in Boston after being chosen 13th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft, played four seasons with the Celtics. Arguably the best game of his career came in Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals when the Gonzaga alum dropped 26 points against the Wizards in a 115-105 victory.
After four seasons with the Celtics, Olynyk joined the Miami Heat during the 2017 offseason. He shot a career-best 40.6% from deep while coming off the bench in the 2019-20 campaign.
Now in his 10th season, Olynyk is averaging 11.5 points, five rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 40.8% on mostly catch-and-shoot 3-pointers for the Jazz, who sit eighth in the Western Conference standings.
With a stockpile of picks and young players on the roster, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Utah part ways with the 31-year-old veteran who is guaranteed $3 million next season. Olynyk is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2023-24 season.
In terms of a potential trade, though, an Eastern Conference source believes neither Miami nor Boston has what it takes to meet Utah’s asking price for Olynyk according to Bulpett.
The Celtics won’t be able to trade 2024 draft capital until the 2023 NBA Draft due to the Stepien Rule, which prevents teams from trading their own first-round picks in back-to-back years.
Assuming the Heat don’t chase after Kyrie Irving, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald said acquiring a big man via first-round pick is certainly on the table.
Olynyk, who became the fourth player in men’s program history to have his jersey displayed in the McCarthey Athletic Center this season, was an All-American and the WCC Player of the Year in 2013 while helping the Zags reach their first No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
Olynyk, a native of Ontario, Canada, averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game that season, leading Gonzaga to a 32-3 record.
