3 former Boston Celtics players team would love to have back

Former Boston Celtics player No. 2) Kelly Olynyk

Yes, we’re well aware that Kelly Olynyk is currently out for the next several weeks as he nurses a sprained MCL. Even still, however, having him on the C’s roster may not change the way in which they’re currently performing (obviously), but it would certainly bring a bit more optimism down the road once he gets back to full health.

After finding himself erupting towards the back end of last season once traded to the Houston Rockets, the former Boston Celtics lottery pick signed a nice three year, $37 million deal with the Detroit Pistons during the summer and, predominantly in a bench role, he managed to continue his rather solid level of play prior to injury.

In 23.5 minutes a night, the big man is boasting sound per-game averages of 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and just shy of a block on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 34 percent shooting from deep.

The way we see it, if Olynyk were playing within Boston’s rotation this year, he would essentially be a more well-rounded/ adjusted version of Grant Williams, i.e. an efficient secondary shooter who would excel in catch-and-shoot scenarios (was converting on 41 percent of his catch-and-shoot treys and boasts an effective field goal percentage of 61 percent in this department).

However, being that he’s also 6-11 instead of 6-6 like Williams, he could serve as a sizeable interior presence as well while also allowing Ime Udoka to have many more rotational options to work, be it with the continuation of the dual-big lineup with him at the four or slotting him in at center and running a five-out set.

Not only would Olynyk — again, once healthy — be a plus in the same way that Rozier would when it comes to the team’s second-unit offense, but he’d also give the Cs more depth and floor spacing within their frontcourt which, frankly, could be of great service this year.