Boston Celtics: Hayward signing sends Kelly Olynyk into free agency
Kelly Olynyk has played his last game in a Boston Celtics jersey. The restricted free agent had his rights renounced by the team on Tuesday.
It was nice knowing you Kelly Olynyk. As expected, the Boston Celtics have renounced the rights of the stretch big man sending him into free agency.
The news came right after the announcement that Gordon Hayward picked the Celtics over the Utah Jazz and Miami Heat.
In the first of a few moves the team needs to make to make room for Hayward’s four-year, $128 million deal, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reported Olynyk as a cap space casualty.
Boston has renounced restricted free agent Kelly Olynyk, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2017
His time in Boston
Drafted in the first round of the 2013 NBA draft, Kelly Olynyk showed promise as a stretch big man, but never really displayed that promise on a consistent basis. Part of the reason was due to injury, but most of it was his lack of aggressiveness on the offensive end of the ball.
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Ironically, the seven-footer did come through and had the game of his life in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals against the Washington Wizards. The Gonzaga product exploded for 26 points, showcasing his ability to score the ball close to the basket and beyond the three-point stripe.
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While the performance made him an instant Celtics playoff legend, Olynyk knew his time in Boston was likely coming to an end.
"“That definitely hit me that last game,” Olynyk told Adam Kaufman of WBZ NewsRadio back in June. “Hopefully that’s not the case. I love this city, this team, this organization. I’ve really grown up here and they’ve give men a lot. I want to keep giving back to them.”"
A strong free agent market
Unless Kelly Olynyk wants to give back to the city of Boston by re-signing with a very friendly hometown discount, there will be a ton of interest for sharp-shooting big man.
Olynyk should rake in the dough from some team out there. He has already sparked some interest from teams like the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks. He could also be a nice reserve man on one of those contending teams in the West.
Through 75 games with the Boston Celtics last season, Olynyk averaged 9.0 points and 4.8 rebounds.
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