One NBA writer is proposing that the Boston Celtics acquire Kelly Olynyk from the Utah Jazz this summer.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed that the Celtics trade Payton Pritchard and Danilo Gallinari to the Jazz for Olynyk, who used to play in Boston. With the team lacking higher-level shooting around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the thought is that Olynyk could help to address it.
“Adding one more shooter, especially in the frontcourt, helps keep this offense humming and the driving lanes open,” Swartz wrote. “Olynyk makes his return to Boston a year after putting up 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and shooting 39.4 percent in Utah. He’d be the ideal third big for this roster behind Al Horford and Robert Williams III.”
As for the Jazz, they are in need of a point guard, which would be helped by acquiring Pritchard. He wants a bigger role that he isn’t in line to receive from the Celtics.
“The point guard-needy Jazz should have interest in Pritchard entering the final year of his rookie deal. If the 25-year-old works out, Utah will have the right to make him a restricted free agent next summer," Swartz added. "Gallinari can help out if he’s completely recovered from a torn ACL. If there are any setbacks, his $6.8 million player option runs out in 2024.”
Olynyk averaged 12.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Jazz this season while shooting 49.9% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 85.3% from the free-throw line. He began his career with the Celtics in 2013 and played in 278 games with Boston.
The 32-year-old Olynyk signed a three-year, $37 million deal with the Detroit Pistons in August 2021. The Gonzaga product has played for the Celtics, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Pistons and Jazz. He has career averages of 10.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
The Celtics lost to the Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals in seven games. Gallinari missed the entire 2022-23 season recovering from an ACL injury, while Pritchard wasn’t in the rotation.
According to NBA insiders Jay King and Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Pritchard would like to be traded by the Celtics this offseason.
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