Celtics Reportedly Interested in Reunion with Kelly Olynyk

Kelly Olynyk's fit on the court and Boston's cap sheet make him as realistic a target as anyone the Celtics might add to upgrade their rotation before the trade deadline passes.

Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Kelly Olynyk's a potential target that makes as much sense as any for the Celtics to add to upgrade their rotation before the Feb. 9 trade deadline comes and goes.

While making the cases for and against a quiet trade deadline in Boston and exploring potential fits, including from a financial perspective, Olynyk's name came up every time.

The Gonzaga alum who sent the Celtics to the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals, erupting for 26 points on the TD Garden parquet in Game 7 of the conference semifinals against the Wizards, could potentially be on his way back to Boston, according to Steve Bulpett of Heavy.

Before Wednesday's 139-96 win over the Nets, where the Celtics' sharpshooting set multiple franchise records, Boston was 18th in points per game since Dec. 1, averaging 114.7 per contest, per NBA.com.

Olynyk, now in his tenth season, is burying 40.6 percent of the 3.5 threes he's hoisting per game. That includes knocking down 40.8 percent of his 3.2 catch-and-shoot attempts from beyond the arc, per NBA.com.

While he and Danilo Gallinari's games aren't carbon copies of each other, Olynyk would give the Celtics the floor spacing, reliable kickout option they intended to add when they acquired Gallinari.

During the shifts when there are more second-unit members on the floor, the idea of Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown anchoring those lineups alongside Brogdon, Derrick White, Grant Williams, and Olynyk is tantalizing.

And while Luke Kornet's provided productive minutes off the bench, upgrading would make it easier to pace Robert Williams and Al Horford.

Boston can short shift Williams or Horford to keep at least one on the court, a rotation tactic it has utilized with the former at times this season, but adding a second-unit center it can trust for more than just spot minutes is more conducive to success.

And even though Olynyk would likely continue coming off the bench if Williams or Horford got injured, he'd help absorb what would be a devastating blow.

Even from a financial perspective, the Celtics keeping Olynyk beyond this season and re-signing Grant Williams is realistic.

The former has a partial guarantee for only $3 million next season, per Spotrac, but it's a safe bet he earns the entirety of the $12.2 million he's potentially on the books for in 2023-24.

Boston would undoubtedly include Gallinari in a trade for Olynyk to help make the math work, so at most, it would be going $1.4 million further into the luxury tax next season.

The Celtics could also include Sam Hauser or Kornet in the deal instead of Justin Jackson's expiring contract to reduce their luxury tax bill.

As currently constructed, factoring in re-signing Williams, a restricted free agent this summer, and Gallinari picking up his $6.8 million player option, Boston projects to go $15-20 million over the luxury tax for the 2023-24 campaign.

There's just one problem.

"According to a league executive with knowledge of the situation, the Celts are still trying to learn what it would take to get Olynyk from the Jazz, but an Eastern Conference source whose club has been working the market for a center/power forward doesn’t believe the Heat or Celtics will be able to meet what Utah wants for Olynyk," conveys Bulpett."

As previously detailed, because of the Stepien Rule, Boston, who sent its 2023 first-round selection to the Pacers to add Malcolm Brogdon without subtracting Grant Williams, can't trade its first-round capital in 2024 until after the 2023 Draft unless it acquires a first-round pick in this or next year's draft.

Furthermore, even if the best offer for Olynyk involved the Celtics sending a 2025 first-round pick to Utah, it has to determine if that's worth it knowing they're starting the repeater tax this season, have their entire rotation besides Grant Williams on multi-year deals, and would restrict future trade flexibility.

Perhaps the Jazz's asking price for Olynyk will come down as the 3 p.m. ET deadline on Feb. 9 approaches, and Payton Pritchard plus multiple second-round picks gets a deal done.

But for now, an Eastern Conference source shared with Bulpett, "I’m not sure Utah or San Antonio has much real interest in Pritchard, and forget about Grant (Williams), because the purpose of getting another big is to get someone after Grant. He’s their third big right now, and they’re looking for a fourth or fifth big, not necessarily a third big."

So, as well as Olynyk fits on the court and the cap sheet, the Celtics may have to look elsewhere for a rotation upgrade before the trade deadline passes.

Further Reading

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Nets: Tatum and Brown Combine for 57 Points as Boston Makes Light Work of Brooklyn

The Top 5 Plays from Wednesday's Celtics-Nets Game

1:1 with Paul Pierce on What the Celtics-Lakers Rivalry Means to Him; Jayson Tatum's Growth, His Evaluation of Boston's Season, and More

With Jayson Tatum Averaging the Second-Most Minutes Per Game, Joe Mazzulla Addresses Celtics Star's Workload

Marcus Smart Provides Update on Ankle Injury; Says There's no Target Date for His Return

Limited Role Has Payton Pritchard Questioning Future with Celtics Ahead of Trade Deadline