3 Underrated Suitors Who Could Trade for Jazz’s Kelly Olynyk at Deadline
We now sit under 72 hours until the highly-anticipated NBA trade deadline hits at 1 PM MT on February 8th, with speculation and chatter around the league continuing to persist. Each of the 30 teams has ample ability to shake up the association with a deal in the coming days, and the Utah Jazz are no exception.
This is a roster that's been a part of several trade rumors and conversations in recent weeks but has gone without striking a move on the market just yet. While many of the talks have been involving key rotational pieces like Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson, the most prominent has been the former Gonzaga product, Kelly Olynyk.
The Jazz veteran has gained a lot of steam on the trade market thanks to his impact on the offensive end, and it's become increasingly known that this front office will be taking calls on him.
His availability raises the question of which team could eventually acquire the Utah big man. Contenders like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Houston Rockets have been among the teams to be intrigued in Olynyk, but those aren't the only squads a move is limited to.
With that, here's a look at three underrated teams we could see the Jazz trade Kelly Olynyk to in the days leading up to the NBA trade deadline:
Philadelphia 76ers
Considering the Philadelphia 76ers will be without their reigning MVP Joel Embiid for an 'extended' amount of time, it puts this roster in need of some size and scoring ability during his absence. As Olynyk provides that complementary skill set, he can be a potentially perfect fit in this rotation during their postseason push.
The 76ers rank in the bottom half of the NBA for three-point percentage, rebounds, and assists halfway through the 2023-24 season. For a team with championship aspirations, those numbers raise questions on whether this team has what it takes to raise the Larry O'Brien. Having an MVP-caliber player like Embiid on hand helps diminish these concerns, but Philadelphia will be forced to stay afloat in the standings without him for the coming weeks. Some reinforcements may need to come as a result.
Olynyk doesn't bring the same monumental impact as The Process, but he can at least prove to be a reliable cog in their offensive system. The 76ers have a few young pieces down the roster, with a good chunk of their draft capital to remain intact. If Philadelphia wants to bolster its frontcourt, the Jazz could be the ideal partner to talk to in the coming days ahead of the deadline.
Sacramento Kings
Despite their 2023 All-NBA duo being snubbed from this year's All-Star festivities, the Sacramento Kings have continued their newfound success into this season over 40 games into this year's campaign. De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis have led this roster to the 5th seed in the Western Conference at 29-19.
Regardless, as we get into postseason play, this is a team that could utilize some more versatility in the frontcourt. One of the more pressing concerns for the Kings during their run last playoffs was Sabonis's lacking ability as a shooter and defender against high-level squads. While the Sacramento big man has seen improvements on both ends in his career year, this rotation could still find use in another addition.
Olynyk can help stretch the floor for the Kings and be another option at the four outside of Harrison Barnes to place next to Sabonis. Even with Sacramento ranking top three in the NBA for three-pointers attempted, adding more shooting and playmaking into the lineup makes this team that much harder to contain.
The Kings have a few contracts to match up with Olynyk's $12 million expiring, and could throw in some draft capital to sweeten the pot, even if it's unable to be during this summer. Offense has been a focal point during Sacramento's resurgence, and adding Kelly into the mix would keep that trend alive and well.
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have been among one of the most surprising teams across this NBA season. With a young core headlined by Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, this roster has exceeded expectations to become the current 7-seed in the Eastern Conference.
A substantial chunk of their success revolves around their stellar defensive unit. The Magic rank top five in the NBA in defensive rating at 111.4, also landing second in the league for steals per game. However, it's been their offense seeing a bit of a struggle. They rank 24th in offensive rating on just 111.6 points a night. On paper, adding Olynyk helps bring a welcomed lift to their overall scoring production.
For Utah, Olynyk has been an effective bench option who brings great shot selection and can effectively run the offense with his playmaking sense. It's traits that Orlando could benefit from as a starter or a reserve, and his services could be easily obtained. The Magic have been diligent in retaining their own draft picks and young talent across recent history, allowing them to potentially send some over to the Jazz in return for the 11-year veteran.
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