Kelly Olynyk Needs to Take Another Step This Offseason

After all kinds of question marks surrounding Kelly Olynyk entering this season, he responded by being the best big on the Boston Celtics. One of their only good three point shooters, Olynyk expanded his game enough to have one of the most important offensive impacts on the team. The bigger concern, however, was his defense, and that is where Olynyk was the most improved

He always came off the bench but the Celtics did not have another big that had the potential to change the game like Olynyk. They may have had stronger rebounders and slightly more sound defenders, but Olynyk separated himself as one of the only bigs that has the potential to be a top player for the Celtics in the future.

The reality of this situation, however, is that the Olynyk we saw this season is still not nearly enough to be a game changer. His youth and the improvement he made last season are great indicators but he needs to continue to improve or he will be doomed to a minor role on the bench once the Celtics get a better front court.

Shooting is far from a concern for Olynyk. He shot over 40% from three point range and was the Celtics’ best option to stretch the floor. Johnson failed miserably on pretty much any three point attempt, Sullinger never developed the shot that the Celtics needed and no one else even attempted to be a three point shooter (other than small ball power forward Jae Crowder). Olynyk is  already shooting at a level that is right where it needs to be in order for him to be successful.

Olynyk was not bothered by an increase in volume and considering he has been above 35% in each of his three seasons, there is no reason to believe that he will regress with his shooting. In fact, Olynyk could continue to improve his effectiveness if he takes one of the next necessary steps in expanding his offensive game.

As it stands right now, Olynyk is not much of a shot creator and a decent shot fake is the only way he is able to open things up for their offense (in addition to spacing the floor with his shooting). Olynyk did a great job finishing from three and was reliable at the rim. The mid range game was a disaster but Olynyk never consistently went to that.

Olynyk can continue to have a future with the Celtics as long as he maintains his shooting. The Celtics are in desperate need of shooters and, even if he is limited in all other offensive areas, simply being a 40% three point shooter will make Olynyk valuable to the Celtics. Up until they get better shooters.

Brad Stevens and the Celtics love bigs that can stretch the floor and that is where Olynyk stands now. His defensive rating of 104 shows that he will not necessarily be a liability on that end but having just three seasons in the NBA, Olynyk has the potential to become a game changer. Other than Mickey who still needs a opportunity, Olynyk is the only big on the Celtics who has shown flashes of that potential.

If Olynyk can expand his offensive game and start generating more offense for himself and his teammates then he can be a main rotation player, even after the Celtics revamp their lineup. Olynyk has always been a willing passer but he needs to take the next step in creating opportunities through that passing.

The lack of a mid range game is less concerning. Crowder made a similar effort in cutting out the mid range shots because the Celtics needed to optimize the very few three point shooters they had. If Olynyk does all his scoring at the rim and from three point range that will not be a problem. The step he needs to take this offseason is becoming more than just a three point shooter. The Celtics use a lot of great ball movement that ensures there are always opportunities to score. Olynyk needs to reach a point where that offense can be run around what he does.

Olynyk needs to be able to attack in different ways in order to avoid being predictable to defenses. Right now, Olynyk is difficult to match up to because of his unique position as a stretch five. Olynyk needs to become difficult to match up to because of different ways he can create offense for the Celtics.

Olynyk will continue to get more and more respect on his shot from defenses and if he can continue to get them to bite on his shot fake then a lot more things can begin to open up. Olynyk needs to maintain what he is doing as a shooter while finding those ways to make the overall Celtics offense better as a whole. The Celtics have no offensive play makers in the front court but Olynyk has shown signs of becoming that kind of player.

Olynyk is not going to look to become a primary ball handler but he has the potential to be one of the few players on the Celtics that can generate and hit their own shots. Of course, Olynyk will need to maintain his improved defensive play and if he can combine that with better play making ability then the Celtics will be looking to sign him long term.

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Olynyk is young enough that there is no reason to doubt he can continue to improve. Olynyk made the most significant jump of his career last offseason but he needs to build on that. The Celtics have close to a blank slate when it comes to the future of their bigs but Olynyk has an opportunity to separate himself as a long term difference maker for the Celtics.