Tag: Kelly Olynyk

Should the Boston Celtics trade for Kelly Olynyk?

Olynyk’s expiring contract and seemingly expressed interest in returning to Boston have stirred discussions about a possible reunion

The Boston Celtics are facing decisions as the trade deadline approaches, with speculation surrounding potential moves to strengthen their roster having recently been clarified by Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. 

One name that has surfaced in trade talks is Utah Jazz big man Kelly Olynyk, a former Celtic enjoying a career-efficient season in Salt Lake City. Despite the Celtics’ current confidence in their center rotation, Olynyk’s expiring contract and seemingly expressed interest in returning to Boston have stirred discussions about a possible reunion with the Celtics. What would it take for Boston to get such a deal done, and would it make sense for all parties to pull the trigger on a trade to bring the Olynyk Klynyk back home?

In their latest “Garden Report” podcast, CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning and Josue Pavon delve into the possibility of the Celtics trading for the Gonzaga alum.

Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Kelly Olynyk on Boston Celtics trade rumors: ‘Whatever happens, happens’

“If it happens to be in Utah, then that’s where my focus is,” he said. “If it happens to be somewhere else, that’s where my focus will shift.”

Fans of the Boston Celtics are likely aware of the challenges of bringing back Utah Jazz big man Kelly Olynyk to the team that drafted him in 2013, but the prospect of a Boston reunion with the Olynyk Klynyk after rumbles of potential Celtics trade interest in the Kamloops native is tantalizing for many.

Olynyk was asked about the rumors tying him to his former ball club as a trade target in recent weeks at shootaround before the Jazz – Celtics tilt, and the 6-foot-11 center acknowledged he is aware of them. “I’ve heard it, whatever happens, happens,” said Olynyk via CLNS Media.

“If you’re in Utah, or Boston, or wherever you are, you’re putting your best foot forward and trying to help that organization succeed and accomplish their goals.”

“If it happens to be in Utah, then that’s where my focus is,” he added. “If it happens to be somewhere else, that’s where my focus will shift.”

A diplomatic answer if ever there was one, it seems more likely than not that the Gonzaga alum won’t be back in Boston unless it’s via buyout. That’s thanks to the Celtics’ current roster construction and the new CBA rules impacting Boston as a second apron team.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Is there a loophole that could help the Boston Celtics trade for Kelly Olynyk?

Could there be a loophole that the Celtics could use to get the former Boston big man back on their roster?

Recent reports suggest that the Boston Celtics are eyeing a potential trade for Kelly Olynyk, who currently plays for the Utah Jazz. The Celtics, familiar with Olynyk from his time with the team, are exploring options to bring him back on board. However, the challenge lies in the financial aspect of the trade, given Olynyk’s $12.1 million contract for the final year.

According to NBA insider Mark Stein, the Celtics are among the teams monitoring Olynyk as the Jazz consider trade possibilities for the veteran. The hurdle in making this trade lies in the Celtics’ limited flexibility to match Olynyk’s salary without making significant roster moves, which may not be favorable or feasible.

Could there be a loophole that the Celtics could use to get the former Boston big man back on their roster?

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” podcast explored the idea on a recent episode. Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics Lab 233: Boston beats the Lakers on Christmas Day, and making sense of trade rumors with Bobby Krivitsky

After the win, we make some decisions about what sorts of gifts we want to return from our holiday haul — basketball-related and otherwise.

The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, the best kind of win for Celtics fans in the regular season if not the NBA Finals. And they did it despite in-game injuries, strong rallies from their opponent — and most importantly, an ego-boosting hot start that has tended to absorb their killer instinct in the past.

To celebrate the win (and what we saw in it that should reach well beyond the holiday tilt) with other Boston fans, the hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast linked up with Sports Illustrated’s and “Talkin’ Cs” podcast host Bobby Krivitsky to break down the victory.

We also get into recent Kelly Olynyk trade rumbles and what they mean with a closer look, get caught up on the news more generally, and even make some decisions about what sorts of gifts we want to return from our holiday haul — basketball-related and otherwise.

Join us for a special holiday edition of the pod, and felices fiestas to you all.

The Celtics Lab podcast is brought to you by FanDuel.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics rumored to be interested in trading for Kelly OIynyk? Not so fast, says math

But the Celtics are indeed likely to be monitoring the situation.

Could the Boston Celtics be closely monitoring the potential for the Utah Jazz to trade former Celtics center Kelly Olynyk, as recent reports seem to intimate? Perhaps! But most likely not for the reason many seem to be thinking they are.

A recent column from Substack’s Marc Stein certainly paints such a picture on first blush. Per Stein, “Boston is among the teams that is monitoring Utah’s Kelly Olynyk in advance of a potential trade pursuit.” Stein, among the most trusted names in behind-the-scenes intel in the league, is reporting what he is hearing — but changes in the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) suggest that Stein may be choosing his words carefully here.

The short version of why that may be the case is because Boston likely cannot put together a package to land the Kamloops native via trade that would make sense.

Danny Ainge never envisioned Giannis Antetokounmpo as a superstar

Danny Ainge never envisioned Giannis Antetokounmpo becoming one of the best players in the world.

In 2013, the Boston Celtics had the 13th pick in the NBA draft, selecting Kelly Olynyk. Two selections later, the Milwaukee Bucks made one of the best decisions in their franchise’s history, selecting Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 16th overall pick. As we know, that pick changed Milwaukee’s trajectory and earned them an NBA championship.

During a 2018 interview with Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald, Danny Ainge revealed that he had previously met with Giannis. However, the Celtics legend never envisioned him becoming an MVP-level talent. Instead, Ainge viewed Giannis as a solid prospect due to his size and length.

“He was really young,” Ainge said. “He played on a pro-B team in Greece, and I saw him practice. I met him. He was very skinny. I thought he was absolutely a worthwhile project. But never in a million years did I see him becoming a potential best-player-in-the-league type of player. And I saw his potential as a good player because he could handle the ball and he was long. But he was really, really skinny, and I think he was about two or three inches shorter than he is now. But what an amazing player.”

Of course, Giannis did develop into a superstar talent and is now one of the biggest threats to the Celtics’ chances of lifting their 18th championship banner at the end of the current season.

The NBA draft isn’t an exact science, though. It’s virtually impossible to judge how talent will develop once they enter the league, especially an unheard-of player from the lower leagues of Europe.

Nevertheless, Ainge would likely want a mulligan on the 2013 draft if given the opportunity.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8MbvY

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On this day: Stevens, Olynyk, Pressey, Johnson, Langford debut; Rondo 24 asts

On this day, Boston coach Brad Stevens and Celtics Joe Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, Phil Pressey, Jared Sullinger, and Romeo Langford debuted for the team, while Rajon Rondo dropped 24 assists.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics head coach and current Boston President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens coached his first regular-season game in that role after being hired away from the Butler Bulldogs earlier in the year to head to the Celtics to accept his first NBA job.

The tilt was unfortunately a loss to the Toronto Raptors to start the Stevens era with the franchise, though at least a close one to the tune of 93-87. Stevens’ best performing players were forward Jeff Green with 25 points and 5 rebounds, and big man Brandon Bass with 17 points.

The game wasn’t just Stevens’ first with the Celtics.

Kevin Love’s beef with Kelly Olynyk wrecked one guy’s shoulder and the others’ reputation

Love, believing Olynyk intentionally caused the injury, expressed anger and refused Olynyk’s attempts to apologize.

The 2015 NBA playoffs saw a clash between Kevin Love and then-Boston Celtics big Kelly Olynyk, which left Love with a dislocated shoulder and Olynyk’s reputation tarnished. Love had no playoff success until he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers alongside LeBron James. This marked a turning point for the UCLA alum as he finally had a chance to prove himself.

Olynyk, a 7-foot-tall player known for his versatile skillset, faced a challenging season with the Celtics. Despite early promise, his confidence waned, and he struggled with injuries and inconsistency. When the playoffs arrived, Olynyk’s value to his team had declined. In Game 4 of the playoffs, Love and Olynyk became entangled. The result was a gruesome injury for Love, with a dislocated shoulder and torn ligaments.

Love, believing Olynyk intentionally caused the injury, expressed anger and refused Olynyk’s attempts to apologize. The incident divided public opinion, with some defending Olynyk’s character and others condemning him as a dirty player.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear the tale of Olynyk and Love’s postseason battle and their reputations after via the folks at “Secret Base”.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala on white players in the NBA

They also touch upon the unique experiences of white players in the NBA and the respect they garner from their peers.

Ever wonder what Black NBA players have to say about their white colleagues? Former Boston Celtics assistant coach and player Evan Turner joined the host of his “Point Forward” podcast Andre Iguodala on JJ Redick’s “Old Man and the 3” podcast recently, and a discussion on this topic broke out with Redick enjoying the exchange.

Spencer Hawes, a former player, is remembered for his love of hip-hop, and fellow Boston alum Kelly Olynyk, another player, is revealed to be a rapper. It’s a reminder that musical tastes in the NBA are diverse, transcending stereotypes. They also touch upon the unique experiences of white players in the NBA and the respect they garner from their peers.

The conversation then weirdly evolves into a debate about the greatness of Hall of Fame Celtics legend Larry Bird in basketball history.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Evan Turner shares how he put Kelly Olynyk on the hot seat in the GOAT point guard debate

With a bit of luck on his side, the former Celtic wing and current team assistant had a secret weapon to boost his case.

Former Boston Celtics wing and assistant coach Evan Turner is known for his wild stories as much as he is his on-court play and coaching skills. And, for that reason, the hosts of the popular, Celtics team-produced podcast “The View From the Rafters: Behind the Scenes with the Boston Celtics” had ET on the pod to regale listeners with some of those nuggets of Boston lore early on in its existence.

True to his reputation, Turner delivered, with everything from new takes on the truck-in-his-pool story to why Brad Stevens doesn’t exactly deserve the “aw, shucks” rep he gets. But for us, our favorite tale he shared on the pod was the creative way he got teammate Kelly Olynyk to eat crow in a G.O.A.T. debate.

“We’re arguing on the bus about the best point guards,” began Turner.