Celtics' Olynyk undergoes successful shoulder surgery

BOSTON (AP) Kelly Olynyk had a promising regular season derailed late in the year by recurring right shoulder issues. After discussions with doctors both he

BOSTON (AP) Kelly Olynyk had a promising regular season derailed late in the year by recurring right shoulder issues.

After discussions with doctors both he and the Celtics felt offseason surgery was the best option for him.

The team announced Tuesday that the 7-footer had arthroscopic surgery on the shoulder Monday. The procedure was for recurrent subluxations, or when the shoulder partially slips in and out of the socket.

''It wasn't an easy decision,'' Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Tuesday night. ''But Kelly's shoulder, there was a lot of movement. ... It was slipping in and out. I think everybody finally concluded that there's no guarantee he was going to get better without surgery.''

Olynyk aggravated an early season injury to the shoulder in Game 1 of the Boston's first round playoff series with Atlanta, causing him to miss Games 2 and 3. The Celtics lost the series 4-2.

It wasn't a certainty that the third-year big man would go the surgery route, and he was noncommittal when asked about it immediately after the season ended.

But Ainge said, ''He chose and we chose reluctantly for him to get surgery,''

Olynyk will begin an immediate rehabilitation program, but a time frame for his return to basketball has not yet been determined. But Ainge said the surgery he had typically has a recovery window of about five months.

Under that timeline Olynyk could return to the court early in the preseason.

Olynyk just completed his third season with Boston, averaging 10 points and 4.1 rebounds, while shooting 40.5 percent from the 3-point line.