Avery Bradley thinks Kelly Olynyk has a ‘perfect situation’ in Houston

Bradley previously played with Olynyk in Boston and Miami, so he has useful perspective on where and how Olynyk’s skillset best fits.

In seven games with the Houston Rockets, big man Kelly Olynyk has already proven to be a savvy pickup by general manager Rafael Stone. Count longtime teammate Avery Bradley as among the many admirers.

Now 29 years old, Olynyk is currently averaging 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 28.9 minutes per game, and he’s shooting 59.7% from the field and 41.7% on 3-pointers. To Bradley, who was also teammates with Olynyk in Miami and Boston, it’s the “perfect situation.”

In comments from Thursday’s practice, Bradley said of Olynyk:

I think Kelly’s game has evolved over these years, just like the NBA has. This is just the perfect situation for Kelly. He’s a great shooter, pick-and-pop, being able to play with unselfish guys. His IQ level is so high, I feel like he makes the game easier for everyone around him, as well.

But he’s such a great shooter, and in today’s game, whenever you can have a seven-footer that can shoot the way Kelly does, I feel like it opens up the game. Not only for himself, but for everyone.

Best of all, Olynyk’s numbers have contributed to team success. In Wednesday’s surprising win over Dallas, Olynyk had a career-high 18 rebounds, and he also played well in Monday’s single possession loss to the Phoenix Suns, who are No. 2 in the Western Conference.

Olynyk’s contract expires after this season, so Stone has plenty of work ahead to keep him in Houston for future seasons. But it has certainly been a successful start, with hopes clearly growing of longer-term fit.

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