Celtics reportedly interested in potential big man reunion
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 04: Kelly Olynyk #9 of the Miami Heat drives towards the basket past Daniel Theis #27 of the Boston Celtics during the first half of the game between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat at TD Garden on December 04, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Celtics are popping up in recent trade rumors for a veteran big man who used to call Boston home.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Celtics are showing interest in a potential reunion with Kelly Olynyk via trade. Olynyk last played for Boston in the 2016-17 season, and has since spent time with the Heat, Rockets, and Pistons, and most recently the Jazz.
Olynyk, 32, is shooting 54.9 percent from the field, 41.8 percent from three-point range, and 88.9 percent from the free throw line in 21 games for the Jazz, mostly in a bench role. He’s also logging 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, despite averaging just 21.8 minutes.
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In a return to the Celtics, Olynyk would certainly continue to come off the bench, but he’d represent a marked upgrade over reserve bigs like Luke Kornet and Neemias Queta. His long-range shooting ability and efficiency would make him a great fit for what the C’s want to do offensively. In addition, he’d provide solid veteran big man depth behind the injury-prone Kristaps Porzingis and the 37-year-old Al Horford, which has been a need basically since Brad Stevens built this roster.
The Celtics have the NBA’s best record at 23-6 entering Tuesday, after holding off the Lakers for a Christmas Day win on Monday. So clearly, they don’t need much extra help for their next run at the NBA Finals, assuming their starters are all healthy by that time.
But if they look to add a depth big at the trade deadline and/or the buyout market, Olynyk will likely be one of their better options among affordable pieces on the market. Be sure to keep checking back at 985TheSportsHub.com for more Celtics trade rumors.
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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.
Christmas Day win caps Celtics' road trip on a high note
The Boston Celtics had to go on the road for the holidays this year, but they made it work. On Monday evening the C’s wrapped up a four-game West Coast road trip by beating the Los Angeles Lakers 126-115 on Christmas Day to close the trip with three wins in a row.
It was a complete effort by the Celtics in this one. Fully healthy after missing various starters over the previous three games, every Celtics starter scored at least 18 points.
With the win, the Celtics improved to 23-6 on the season. After the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the New York Knicks earlier in the day, the Celtics are now 1.5 games up for the top spot in the Eastern conference as they head back to Boston.
Right away, the Celtics picked up with the torrid pace they featured in Saturday’s 144-119 over the Sacramento Kings. They got up 12-0 in the first two and a half minutes, a run that featured six points off of turnovers. Seven of those 12 points came from Jaylen Brown, with Jayson Tatum barely having to touch the basketball, and Brown’s first three of the game drew an early timeout from Lakers’ coach Darvin Ham.
That timeout didn’t do much to cool the Celtics off, and Tatum was more involved after that. He scored seven of the Celtics’ next 16 points. However the Lakers found a groove late in the quarter, and closed the frame on a 9-0 run. With that run, the Celtics still led 32-23 at the end of the first quarter.
Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.
