Miami Heat: Could Kelly Olynyk be a buyout candidate after Utah Jazz trade?
The Miami Heat are on the precipice of getting the proceedings started on their 2022-23 season. Heading off to the Bahamas in just a few days for training camp, they’ll look to do the work necessary to begin what is, hopefully, another run towards a title.
Looking directly over at their competition in the Eastern Conference Finals last season, the Boston Celtics, they have their own warts to deal with at the moment, but it’s not as if the Miami Heat don’t have their issues as well.
Needing to address the four spot in the lineup, as the main guy or to add to the depth of a committee, the Miami Heat could, perhaps, eventually turn back to a familiar face in Jae Crowder. Reportedly on the outs in Phoenix, another franchise in the midst of turmoil, he’s a guy that they know fits and does well in Miami.
However, that applies to another guy that may find himself available at some point too.
The Miami Heat need to add to their power forward rotation and Kelly Olynyk is on the move. If paid out of his deal, should they pursue him?
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With the operative word there being “may”, here is the recent piece of news that makes you think that he may be free to choose his own destination soon enough.
The Pistons are sending Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee to the Jazz for Bojan Bogdanovic, sources tell me and @JLEdwardsIII. https://t.co/Mu7dkZVJ8I
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 22, 2022
With Kelly Olynyk headed to Utah, he makes for an interesting little piece to watch. That’s especially with the familiarity between him and the Miami heat, along with their need for a guy like him.
When you look at the Utah Jazz, they currently have Lauri Markkanen, Jarred Vanderbilt, Walker Kessler, Udoka Azubuike, and a few other guys that they are probably more interested in continuing to develop than they are in playing Kelly Olynyk. After moving Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert this offseason, they are in a rebuild, not win-now mode.
That could make a player like Kelly Olynky a prime player for a buyout. His deal for this season only pays him $12.8 million, while only three million of the $12.1 scheduled dollars on his contract are guaranteed for next season.
It wouldn’t become fully guaranteed until a few days before the 2023-24 league year begins. And when it comes to the Miami Heat, they should look to reunite with the versatile big if he is, indeed, able to agree on a number with Utah.
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It was unpleasant to see him leave a few years back, though the Heat had to do what they did to land Victor Oladipo, but this would be the perfect opportunity to make it all right if it’s possible.