Big man draft pick from Danny Ainge era no longer interested in Celtics reunion
Danny Ainge-era big man Kelly Olynyk liked the idea of a reunion with the Boston Celtics at the 2023 trade deadline when such rumors popped up, but as the 31-year-old told Heavy’s Steve Bulpett, he isn’t looking to leave the Jazz — a franchise Ainge is now in control of — to return to the team that drafted him.
“You always think, ‘What if? Maybe it could happen,'” Olynyk told Bulpett. “But you obviously have to focus on the now and what you’re doing. I’m definitely not trying to get out of anywhere. This is a great situation to be a part of with this team, but your mind can’t help but wander for a second when you hear about things.”
Olynyk did reiterate that he loved the city of Boston when he was a Celtic from 2013-2017. “I mean, I love Boston,” Olynyk said. “I grew up in Boston basically, coming out of college and starting my professional career. I have nothing but great things to say about the city, the organization, everybody involved. It feels like home every time I come back. When you see those kind of rumors, it brings up great memories. It’s a city that has unbelievable people, fans, culture, all that.”
Kelly Olynyk on his first Boston Celtics stint and how it ended
Olynyk acknowledged that the NBA is a business — one that that produced over $10 billion in revenue during the 2022 calendar year — in his conversation with Bulpett, not taking the Boston Celtics passing on re-signing him in order to sign Gordon Hayward personally.
“I’m sure the Celtics would have liked to keep me back then, but it’s kind of the way the business works with the salary cap and all that,” Olynyk acknowledged. “I was just kind of a casualty. It happens.”
Kelly Olynyk on being reunited with Danny Ainge
Olynyk is okay with playing on a rebuilding Jazz team, though Utah’s roster has ignored numerous veterans being traded away and continues to put itself in a position to clinch an NBA Play-in spot, because he is back with the man who drafted him.
“It’s fun to be reunited with Danny,” Olynyk said. “He’s obviously a great person. He brought me into this league. It’s fun to be back with him in a different setting, different role, just trying to help this team get back to where it wants to be.”
Olynyk has averaged 12 points on a 49/39/86 shooting split, six rebounds, and 3.6 assists during the 2022-23 season, his first as a member of the Jazz.