The Heat handed Kelly Olynyk a four-year, $46MM contract this offseason and one rival Eastern Conference GM is not impressed with the transaction, as he tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
“Not a huge fan of Olynyk and think they overpaid by about 20 percent. I have no idea why he got a player option. But basketball wise he’s a good fit,” the anonymous GM told Jackson.
Olynyk’s contract contains a player option worth slightly over $12.2MM for the 2020/21 season. That same GM also offered his opinion on Jordan Mickey, whom the team signed to a two-year contract in August. “End of the bench NBA player [that] can play for 8-10 years in the right system as a shotblocker, rebounder, energy guy,” he said.
Here’s more from Miami:
- Josh Richardson, who inked a four-year, $42MM extension with the Heat this offseason, may have been able to land a larger contract had he held off on signing until he reached the free agent market. However, the 2015 No. 40 overall pick is happy with the deal he signed, as Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel relays. “Let’s be real, $42 million is a lot of money,” Richardson said. “So I can live on that forever. I don’t really worry about what everybody else is doing. I don’t like comparing myself to other people. So when they came to it, it was kind of like a no-brainer.”
- Hassan Whiteside injured his knee on opening night and the big man’s absence has forced Mickey to take on a starting role. The 6’8″ big man has mostly played the four during his time in the league, but he has no issue playing center when needed for the Heat, as Winderman passes along in a separate piece. “I feel comfortable at whatever position he puts me at, whether he needs me to guard the bigs on the court or guard one of the smaller guys on the court,” Mickey said. “That’s where the NBA is going now, bigger guys guarding small guys. So you’ve got to continue to grow with the game.”
- The Heat don’t have many scoring options on the wing, making Dion Waiters‘ recovery from an ankle injury even more crucial, Winderman contends in a recent mailbag. Waiters suffered the injury last season and hasn’t been able to suit up yet as a result of it.
Honestly… I like the moves Miami made this season and the team looks like a mid-seed team right now.
I agree with what the gm said about Mickey. Guy could be a valuable rotation player in the future, and even if he’s not, he’s a good bottom roster guy to have.
“[Overpaid]… But basketball-wise [Olynick] is a good fit.”
Well that’s what we’re talking about, isn’t it? Basketball? It takes two tough big men to play three guards, so you need a third good big. Half of Bloodsport’s career minutes came last year, and neither him nor Whiteside is a shooter. KO was needed. I’m exaggerating about JJohnson’s PT, and with this sarcasm:
Oooo Richardson is so fancy. Why isn’t he paid more.
That GM sounds like Danny Ainge to me
That’s about the amount, maybe a little less, I said they overpaid. That being said, Olynyk lost 15-18 pounds so far, and has improved in certain areas. He has still been an issue at times, but in the right lineups, it’s working with him at the 5…
Mickey has always reminded me of a remedial Taj Gibson. The Heat have clearly worked with him in some areas on both sides of the floor, and you can see the improvement. If he continues to knock down 3s, he will he more than a useful rotation piece as an athletic and versatile 5
Gibson is a stronger post defender and doesn’t shoot as much, Mickey may have more raw athleticism. Good comp tho, like with Bam I think everyone was thinking Biyombo