Kelly Olynyk Could Be The Future Of The Boston Celtics


Kelly Olynyk has a lot of weight on his shoulders.

The Gonzaga big man with the high basketball IQ and unorthodox style was drafted by the Boston Celtics this week, joining a team that had been an annual contender in the Eastern Conference, one where he could learn behind one of the best and most knowledgeable forwards in the league.

Within hours of being drafted, he was on a team in full-on rebuilding mode, one where he’ll be thrust into a much bigger role.

Not long after the draft finished, the Celtics completed a deal that sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for draft picks and a mess of player contracts, including Kris Humphries. After trading Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers a few days before, the Celtics have signaled that they’re in the midst of a full rebuild, with the new team built around Rajon Rondo and a few other young stars.

Kelly Olynyk, the 7-foot, 234-pound center/power forward now looks to be a central part of the team’s future.

On the Boston Globe’s Celtics blog, Olynyk is praised as an efficient player, his 1.13 points per possession tops among draft prospects at his position. He finishes at the rim 70 percent of the time, also putting him at the top of the draft for his position.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few has also had high praise for Kelly Olynyk.

“He’s got an IQ like a point guard. It’s that high,” Few told the Boston Herald. “He knows what we are supposed to be doing. He knows what the opponent is doing, so he really has a great feel for the game.”

The Celtics seemed to agree. The team gave up the No. 16 pick and two future second-round picks to take Olynyk at the No. 13 spot in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

Kelly Olynyk has a bit of an unorthodox style, but it worked at Gonzaga and his game seems well-suited for the NBA. He’ll be able to draw defenders out of the paint with his good mid-range shooting.

So while the Pierce/Garnett trade and the loss of Doc Rivers may have gutted the Celtics and it may be a few years before the Boston faithful seethe playoffs again, it seems they at least they have strong potential in Kelly Olynyk.

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