NBA Trade Deadline: Evaluating Kelly Olynyk Packages
With the NBA trade deadline looming on Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder sit at 35-15 in first place in the Western Conference. Between Sam Presti's track record of improving teams and a mountain of assets, the Thunder could easily land some help at the deadline.
One player the Thunder should target is Kelly Olynyk of the Utah Jazz.
Let's examine why he would be worth Oklahoma City trading for:
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Notable Stats and Skills:
Kelly Olynyk is a floor-spacing modern big man who is shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc, including 45 percent on corner triples, and a career-high 76 percent at the rim this season. Olynyk is shooting 46.8 percent on catch-and-shoot chances this season, among the best in the NBA.
According to Synergy, Olynyk ranks in the 89th percentile, turning in 1.394 points per possession as the roll man in the pick-and-roll. He also generates 1.484 points per possession on cuts and 1.409 points per possession on post-up attempts this season.
Contract Situation:
Olynyk is on an expiring contract, owed $12.1 million this season, on the doorstep of becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Thunder Fit:
Olynyk was a nice complementary weapon to Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and playing alongside Lu Dort, in the 2023 FIBA World Cup back in August. His ability to space the floor as a 3-point shooter and finish plays at the rim, Olynyk, is a seamless fit into Oklahoma City's offense.
While Olynyk is nothing to write home about defensively, playing alongside the Thunder's cast of defenders, it will be easy to mask his faults on that end of the floor as a rotational player.
It feels safe to assume his value as a roll man and cutter will only improve with better playmakers around him in Oklahoma City.
Olynyk would not be tasked with making or breaking the Thunder's season but instead just elevating Oklahoma City's front-court depth. In certain matchups, he would be the best non-Chet Holmgren option, and even when you want to get Jaylin Williams minutes, having a backup plan is a must in the NBA Playoffs as adjustments become crucial and the risk for injury only grows the longer you play in a season.
Even playing Olynyk alongside Williams, look how well the Arkansas big man has played alongside Holmgren. Him getting to work alongside Olynyk could really sure up the bench unit.
Olynyk has played 48 playoff games in his career, especially with the Boston Celtics, who were/are in a similar spot as the Thunder, putting their playoff success on the backs of young rising stars.
Market Value:
While Utah's top decision maker, Danny Ainge, is notorious for driving a hard bargain, there is not much of a leg to stand on in Olynyk negotiations. The Jazz will likely be forced to accept matching salaries and a plater of second-round picks, or potentially a 1st round pick in the 2024 draft, which might not be as heavily valued as a traditional first-rounder.
Davis Bertans can be used as the matching salary, along with letting Ainge name his price on second-round picks, as the Thunder have 20 tradeable second-round selections.
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