The qualifying tournaments to determine the final four men’s basketball teams that will participate in the Tokyo Olympics will begin on June 29, about a month before the NBA’s free agent period gets underway.
Rockets big man Kelly Olynyk will be a free agent this summer, but he’s not planning to skip those qualifiers to avoid risking an injury before signing a new contract. As Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle details, Olynyk acknowledged that he’ll take his impending free agency into account as he considers his decision, but he wants to represent his home country as Team Canada looks to secure an Olympic berth.
“It’s always been a goal of mine to play in the Olympics and represent Canada on the highest stage. Hopefully, we can this summer,” Olynyk said. “… Usually, your free agency is done July 1 and the Olympics are the beginning of August and you’re good to go. Now, the Olympics are the end of July and free agency is the beginning of August, so it’s kind of flip-flopped. Obviously, that plays a role and you have to think about it, whether it’s insurance or what the best route to go is. We’ll cross those bridges when they come but my goal is to go out there and play and represent my country.”
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- Since the Rockets don’t project to be able to open up much cap room this offseason, John Hollinger and Kelly Iko of The Athletic wonder if the team might opt to remain over the cap, perhaps bringing back Olynyk and Avery Bradley on short-term deals as possible 2022 trade chips.
- In a separate story for The Athletic, Iko takes a deep dive into Kenyon Martin Jr.‘s development as a rookie this season, exploring the strides he has made and how he fits into Houston’s long-term plans. Martin pointed to improving his shot off the dribble as something he intends to work on before his second season.
- Rockets wing Sterling Brown has missed the team’s last two games with left knee soreness, but head coach Stephen Silas doesn’t expect the injury to be a “long-time thing,” predicting that Brown will return soon, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Silas also offered high praise for Brown’s play this season: “He’s shooting the ball consistently for us, shooting the ball extremely well, having a career season. He’s someone I can put on the floor whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, he will produce on both ends of the floor.”
Resigning Big O and Avery Bradley?
Hollinger is trying to use Rockets owner money
Dear John,
Please use your money and don’t use others money
Why not make a trade to dump Wall?
Wall and future picks for a bad con trade like Love
Right, the Rockets are going to give away Wall for Love. If Wall is supposed to be washed up, as is the popular opinion, then why would the Cavs give up multiple picks for him? Luckily they have Rafael Stone, who actually knows how to run an NBA team. Wall will help develop all of their young talent.
Until I realized hes Canadian, I was thinking Kelly was smoking some green.
If the Rockets choose to bring back Bradley they won’t need to sign him to a short-term deal, all they’d need to do is exercise their team option for next season.
And if they re-sign Olynyk it won’t be as a trade chip, he has played great since joining the team and can either start at PF or back up Wood at center. He’s a keeper.
Rockets need to concentrate on players they want to keep. This draft is huge for them. A new season me beginning is good for team. A healthy Wall, with Wood is good start. They need to settle on a rotation and start building a core. They could still luck out with that top 4 pick . They score that. Then it’s a whole different game now. A healthy Wall is still a solid potential 20 and 10 guy. All about next yr and the draft now. Up to Lady Luck.
Wallywood implies the last 15 years should not be forgotten.
I have to agree with ‘wood that it is reductive to think of Olynyk just as trade bait. To be optimal, not everyone should be the same age on the roster. He is good with Wood if they are physical enough.
Olynyk born in Canada, parents from Ukraine and are BB lifers. Looking through pics, he has different looks, including Swedish while in Boston. Convinced me.