Analyst on Boston Celtics big man reunion: ‘Perhaps Brad Stevens should hold off’
Count NESN’s Gio Rivera out of the camp who’d like to see Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens bring back a Danny Ainge era draft pick, Utah Jazz combo big man Kelly Olynyk.
Rivera was unwilling to see the Cs pay the price for Olynyk, rumored by The Athletic’s Jay King (subscription required) to likely need to include Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, or Luke Kornet in addition to Danilo Gallinari’s dead money deal and other salary filler.
According to the NESN digital content producer, the fact that Olynyk isn’t a superior offensive big man to Al Horford likely means there won’t be much of a rotational need for the former lottery pick:
"“Considering the Celtics have a stronger defensive — and overall big man — in Robert Williams, coupled with the fact that Al Horford’s offensive arsenal at 38 years old is stronger than Olynyk’s, perhaps Stevens should hold off on this one.”"
The Boston Celtics should pursue a different Jazz big man
It’s not Kelly Olynyk who the Boston Celtics front office should phone former GM and current Jazz President Danny Ainge for. Instead, it’s the 23-year-old Rudy Gobert trade throw-in, Jarred Vanderbilt.
While Ainge found a diamond in the rough in Vanderbilt, who worked his way into a starting role in Minnesota over the past two seasons, the fact that Utah is likely tearing their slumping squad at the deadline could mean getting the most value possible from a contender for him.
In terms of fits, Vanderbilt’s surprising playmaking at his size and rebounding relentlessness could make him someone perfect for 14-18 minutes a night off Boston’s bench. His career trajectory is likely better off elsewhere where minutes would be more plentiful truth be told, but his low cost would be helpful next season as well when the C’s payroll will grow exponentially with a potential Grant Williams extension.
Giving up a future first round pick figures to be the draft capital cost for Vanderbilt, and combining contracts of guys like Sam Hauser and Justin Jackson could be the rest of the cost.