The Boston Celtics are interested in reuniting with former draftee Kelly Olynyk, according to Marc Stein. The biggest difficulty, like with other names we’ve heard the Celtics are interested in, is that the Celtics don’t have the contracts or TPE to trade for a player making more than MLE money. Olynyk is paid $12.2 million, which is roughly twice as much as the Celtics’ highest TPE, which cannot be combined with players in a trade.
Boston is not trading any of it’s top 6 for Olynyk, so that means they’d have to part with Payton Pritchard and his contract and an additional player/contract or two to make the math work. Consisdering Olynyk is an expiring deal, I’m not really sure parting with Pritchard to get him is much of a win. And knowing Danny Ainge he will also demand some sort of draft capital.
Olynyk would be a viable option if he’s bought out, but Utah will likely trade him before that happens. There is the possibility he’s traded to another team (a non-contender) and then bought out. Then again, once Olynyk is free to sign wherever he likes, who’s to say he will choose Boston. Another former Celtics big Daniel Theis, upon getting bought out by the Pacers, chose to sign with the Clippers instead
