Kelly Olynyk Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Would Be Interested In James Harden Trade

December 12th, 2020 at 5:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Miami would pursue a trade for Rockets star James Harden if the opportunity arises, a source tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The former MVP reportedly expanded his list of preferred options this week, with the Heat and Bucks joining the Nets and Sixers.

According to the source, at least two members of Miami’s management team have “substantial interest” in adding Harden and there’s no significant opposition to the move. Outsiders have raised concerns that Harden’s ball-dominant style might not fit the Heat’s philosophy, but the belief among the front office is that Harden plays that way because that’s how the offense in Houston is structured.

The Rockets haven’t committed to putting Harden on the market, but the source says the Heat would be among the teams to make an offer in Houston moves in that direction. The source adds that Miami would be willing to include Tyler Herro to get a deal done. The Heat prefer to keep Herro, who made a huge impact during his rookie season, but recognize that players of Harden’s caliber are hard to obtain.

Assessing the situation this week, ESPN’s Zach Lowe suggested Herro is better than any single player that Brooklyn would be willing to part with, though he believes the Rockets would lean toward Ben Simmons if Philadelphia makes him available. Lowe adds that he doesn’t think “any substantive talks have happened with any teams” regarding a Harden trade.

Jackson notes that Miami has financial restrictions to consider. Because the Heat are above the salary cap, they would have to send out close to the $41.2MM that Harden earns this season. League rules state that Miami can take back as much as 125% of the salaries it parts with in the deal, plus $1ooK. Andre Iguodala ($15MM) and Kelly Olynyk ($12.6MM) would likely have to be included in any offer, Jackson states.

Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard and Udonis Haslem, who all re-signed with the Heat over the offseason, have veto power over trades and can’t be moved before February 6. Free agent additions Avery Bradley and Maurice Harkless also can’t be traded until that date.

Jackson sees Miami’s best offer as Herro, two players from the group of Precious Achiuwa, Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson, along with Olynyk and Iguodala to match salaries and first-round picks in 2025 and 2027. The Heat and Thunder would have to remove protections on the first-rounder Miami owes Oklahoma City in 2023 for that deal to be possible.

Heat Notes: Frontcourt, FAs, Achiuwa, Dragic, Olynyk

December 7th, 2020 at 9:05am CST by Luke Adams

Based on their offseason moves, the Heat certainly don’t appear to be focusing on playing any smaller during the 2020/21 season, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

As Winderman observes, the club drafted Precious Achiuwa with its first-round pick, re-signed Meyers Leonard and Udonis Haslem, extended Bam Adebayo, and didn’t trade Kelly Olynyk after he picked up his player option. Chris Silva is also back on a guaranteed salary, with undrafted free agent Paul Eboua vying for a two-way contract.

“I feel like it’ll work because we brought back a lot of skilled big men,” Adebayo said on Sunday. “All of us are versatile. When you got bigs that are versatile, that can help the team and help the guards do different things, it just makes our team better. … Then you have two of us out there on the court at the same time, it’s a big difference. I feel like us being so versatile at the big spot is going to help us out a lot this year.”

Despite the Heat’s size up front, the team is confident it’ll be able to comfortably adjust against any team playing small ball.

“Just because some of us are big men doesn’t necessarily mean we’re put in a box and, ‘Oh, man, if a team goes small, there’s nothing we can do about it,'” Leonard said. “No, no, we still have plenty of athleticism, plenty of versatility at the big position and all the way throughout our roster.”

Here’s more on the Heat:

Discussing the Heat’s new free agent additions, head coach Erik Spoelstra referred to Avery Bradley and Maurice Harkless as “plug-and-play guys” and said the team has been fans of both players “for a while,” as Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald writes. “The way they play, they can fit in really in anybody’s system,” Spoelstra said of the two veteran wings.
Within that same Herald story, Spoelstra explained that Precious Achiuwa‘s improvement over the course of his freshman year at Memphis and a belief that his game will translate to the next level were factors in the Heat’s decision to draft him at No. 20. “His athleticism, his quickness, his fluidity, his ability to play multiple positions jumped off the screen,” Spoelstra added, per Chiang.
After beginning individual workouts last week, Heat point guard Goran Dragic was encouraged by how his left foot felt. A torn plantar fascia in that foot sidelined Dragic during the NBA Finals. “I just finished three straight hard practices, running, shooting,” he said, according to Chiang. “My foot reacted well, no pain, nothing. Just a little bit of stiffness in the morning and that’s it.”
While a $12.6MM guarantee was likely a major factor, Kelly Olynyk said this weekend that a desire for continuity following a short offseason also contributed to his decision to exercise his 2020/21 player option. “The way the league is going and the new season just jumped upon us, it just made sense to come back here to a familiar place and continue what we had,” Olynyk said, per Khobi Price of The Sun Sentinel.

Kelly Olynyk Exercises 2020/21 Player Option

November 19th, 2020 at 10:36am CST by Luke Adams

NOVEMBER 19: Olynyk’s move is official, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, who adds that the Heat are now roughly $45MM below the tax line and are expected to move forward as an over-the-cap team. That will enable them to exceed the salary cap to bring back free agents Goran Dragic, Jae Crowder and possibly Meyers Leonard and Derrick Jones Jr.

NOVEMBER 18: Heat big man Kelly Olynyk is exercising his player option for 2020/21, as expected, a league source tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The move will guarantee Olynyk’s $13.2MM salary for next season and put him in line to reach unrestricted free agency in 2021.

Olynyk, 29, came off the bench for most of last season in Miami, averaging 8.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG with a solid shooting line of .462/.406/.860 in 67 games (19.4 MPG). Assuming Olynyk returns to the Heat for next season, he should once again be a regular part of the rotation, especially if center Meyers Leonard departs in free agency.

It’s also worth noting that once he opts into his contract, Olynyk will also be eligible to be traded, and his expiring contract could make a good salary-matching piece for the Heat as they explore their options this fall and perhaps during the season.

Since Olynyk was expected to opt in, the move doesn’t affect the Heat’s cap outlook. Miami still has he opportunity to open up some room, though the team is considered more likely to stay over the cap, attempting to re-sign players like Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder, and potentially using the mid-level exception.

Southeast Notes: Beal, Heat, Olynyk, Wizards

November 8th, 2020 at 3:33pm CST by JD Shaw

Wizards general manager Tommy Shepphard has reaffirmed his confidence that All-Star Bradley Beal will remain with the franchise next season, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes.

Several teams have expressed interest in trading for Beal, 27, but Washington has rebuffed all offers to this point. The team seems intent on keeping Beal and placing him alongside John Wall in the backcourt next season. Wall hasn’t played since December of 2018 due to various injuries.

“Brad absolutely has been committed to us. Last summer, he signed an extension with us. I think we’re absolutely committed to him. The biggest thing we ask for each other is ‘Hey, let’s go win,'” Sheppard said.

“He and I have been a straight line of communication throughout the offseason. He’s really excited for next season. He hasn’t given any indication whatsoever on that and I wouldn’t expect to hear about it from anybody but him. He and I have always been straight-line. And I think he’s as committed to D.C. as he always has been.”

Beal is owed $28.7MM next season and $34.5MM in 2021/22 with the Wizards, with a player option worth $37.2MM in the following season. He averaged a career-high 30.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game last season, good for the second-highest scoring average in the NBA.

There’s more from the Southeast Division tonight:

Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel explores whether the Heat have any untouchable players entering the draft and free agency. Miami acquired its best player, Jimmy Butler, through the trade market in 2019, one way for the franchise to upgrade its roster to push for contention.
Winderman examines in a separate story how Kelly Olynyk‘s $13.2MM player option holds the key to the Heat’s offseason and cap space. If he exercises his option, Miami could use Olynk’s deal in a potential trade between now and the start of the season — or even during the campaign. Should Olynyk opt out, however, the Heat would benefit from receiving additional cap space for free agency. The team could also choose to keep Olynyk as a backup center if he exercises the option.
Tyler Byrum of NBC Sports Washington explores potential Wizards draft targets that may fit the model of last year’s Rui Hachimura pick. Washington drafted Hachimura with the No. 9 pick in 2019, seeing the 22-year-old average 13.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game in his rookie season. The team once again owns the ninth selection in this year’s draft.

Southeast Notes: Olynyk, George, Wizards, Hawks

October 18th, 2020 at 5:54pm CST by JD Shaw

Kelly Olynyk‘s $13.1MM player option decision could potentially limit the Heat‘s available cap space or assist the club in the trade market, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes.

Olynyk, who played meaningful minutes off the bench this season, could choose to exercise the option and return to Miami for a fourth straight season or test free agency. Miami is known for being active in trade discussions, however, and could shop Olynyk if he opts in. Last year’s sign-and-trade for All-Star Jimmy Butler nearly included the veteran forward.

“I mean, on that night I thought I was going to Dallas. I thought it was over,” he said. “Not over, but I thought it was done, that it was a done deal. Like when I heard, people were calling me, I thought it was done.

“And then it unraveled or got revoked. I’m not sure how it went down, but I stayed in Miami.”

The Heat wound up sending Hassan Whiteside to Portland, Josh Richardson to Philadelphia and a first-round pick to the Clippers, bringing over Butler, Meyers Leonard and cash considerations in return. Olynyk was once again a key cog in the team’s rotation this season, averaging 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 19.4 minutes while shooting 41% from deep.

“You never know, the grass could be greener, or there could be no grass over there,” Olynyk said, acknowledging his name could still appear in future trade rumors. “So you really have no clue. And that’s in everything in life, not just basketball, not just sports.”

There’s more from the Southeast Division today:

Winderman examines in a separate story whether the Heat should pursue Paul George if the Clippers make him available in trade talks. Los Angeles had an underwhelming end to their 2019/20 season by losing to Denver in the second round, with George averaging 20.2 points per game on 40% shooting in the playoffs. The Heat’s interest in landing a third star is well-documented, as Bucks All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo (potential free agent in 2021) currently sits atop the team’s future wish list.
Fred Katz of The Athletic evaluates multiple trade proposals for the Wizards. Washington is set to have a healthy John Wall, Bradley Beal, Thomas Bryant and others next season, sporting a diverse mix of veterans and young players.
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic examines hypothetical trade scenarios for the Hawks, a team seeking wing depth around the likes of Trae Young, John Collins and Clint Capela. Atlanta finished with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 20-47 last season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Out For Game 5

September 8th, 2020 at 4:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will miss Game 5 of the Bucks‘ second-round series vs. the Heat on Tuesday night due to his sprained right ankle, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Antetokounmpo, who suffered his ankle sprain during Game 3 and re-aggravated the injury in Game 4, had been listed as questionable and was doing everything he could to return to the court, with head coach Mike Budenholzer telling reporters this afternoon that Giannis’ status would be a game-time decision. However, the quick turnaround from Sunday’s game apparently didn’t give the ankle enough time to heal.

Milwaukee managed to pull out a victory in Game 4 despite not having Antetokounmpo available for the second half, but extending the series again without the reigning MVP will be a tall task. Facing a 3-1 deficit, the Bucks will be eliminated with a loss. A win would force a Game 6 on Thursday and would give Giannis another opportunity to return.

While the Bucks will be without their leading scorer and rebounder, the Heat got some better injury news today. Jae Crowder (ankle), Tyler Herro (hip), and Kelly Olynyk (knee), who had all been listed as questionable on the injury report, are all expected to play tonight, per head coach Erik Spoelstra (Twitter link via Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel).

Eastern Notes: Herro, Giannis, Raptors, Pistons

September 7th, 2020 at 8:05pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Tyler Herro hit some huge shots late in the Heat’s overtime loss to the Bucks during Game 4 on Sunday. He’s still not guaranteed of playing on Tuesday, according to NBA.com’s injury report. The rookie shooting guard is listed as questionable for Game 5 on Tuesday due to a right hip bruise. Two other Miami rotation players – forward Jae Crowder (left ankle sprain) and center Kelly Olynyk (right knee bruise) – are also considered questionable for Game 5.

We have more from around the Eastern Conference:

The Bucks shouldn’t risk their future by allowing Giannis Antetokounmpo to play again in their second-round playoff series, Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports opines. Milwaukee has little chance of winning three consecutive games and playing Antetokounmpo — who is listed as questionable for Game 5 with a sore right ankle — could do more damage than good. Goodwill cites Grant Hill and Kevin Durant as examples of players who tried to play through pain in the playoffs and wound up with more serious injuries.
Continuity has allowed the Raptors to overcome the loss of Kawhi Leonard and make another postseason run, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. Many of their rotation players have been with the organization for at least three years, fostering good chemistry. They also play with a chip on their shoulders, eager to prove their detractors wrong.
The Pistons will be one of the eight teams not invited to Orlando to hold team camps, beginning in the middle of this month. Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois explores how each of their core players can make the most of their prolonged off-season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Questionable For Game 4

September 5th, 2020 at 5:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

With the season on the line Sunday, the Bucks may not have their MVP on the court. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been listed as questionable for Game 4 against Miami with an ankle issue, tweets Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, who adds that Antetokounmpo had a “very noticeable limp” today.

The injury occurred early in the first quarter of Game 3 and Antetokounmpo was seen grimacing in pain throughout the night, according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN. He still managed to put up 21 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists and said afterward that the ankle felt “great” and “it wasn’t bothering me at all.”

Antetokounmpo was named Defensive Player of the Year earlier this week and is expected to be named MVP for the second straight season. The Bucks are 5-5 in games he has missed this year, according to StatMuse.

In other injury news around the league:

Rockets forward Danuel House left Friday’s game early, but the team explained it was for precautionary reasons and he won’t have to enter the concussion protocol, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Coach Mike D’Antoni said House was fine after the game.
LeBron James has a sore right groin, Anthony Davis has a sprained left finger and Rajon Rondo is suffering back spasms, but the Lakers list all three as probable for Sunday, according to Feigen (Twitter link).
The Heat are listing Kelly Olynyk as questionable for Game 4 with the right knee issue that caused him to miss Friday’s game, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
Point guard Tremont Waters will be available for today’s Game 4, the Celtics announced. He had been sidelined with a sprained knee.

Heat Notes: Olynyk, Leonard, Butler, Haslem

September 5th, 2020 at 4:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

As the Heat try to maximize cap room for next summer, they have a decision to make on their backup centers, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Kelly Olynyk has a $12.2MM player option for next season, while Meyers Leonard will be a free agent after making $11.3MM this year.

While it’s generally assumed Olynyk will opt in rather than test a market where few teams have cap space, Jackson suggests the big man could be tempted if his agent learns there are teams willing to offer a three-year contract starting at the mid-level exception of around $9MM. If Olynyk does opt in, Jackson expects the Heat to either keep him and let Leonard leave or try to trade Olynyk to a team with cap space and work out a cheaper deal with Leonard.

Leonard started Miami’s first 49 games, but lost his spot in the rotation after suffering an ankle injury in early February. He made his playoff debut Friday night, going scoreless in nine minutes.

“It was a great feeling to be back out there and I still have some time,” Leonard said. “I’m more than prepared.”

The Heat have $86MM committed to 10 players for 2020/21, Jackson notes, including $5.2MM to Ryan Anderson, who was waived under the stretch provision. Jackson assumes one-year deals in the neighborhood of $20MM for Dragic and $10MM for Crowder, bringing the total salary to $116MM, which is $16.6MM below this year’s luxury tax line. He notes that money could be used to re-sign Leonard and Derrick Jones Jr. or to pursue another free agent big man such as Enes Kanter, Paul Millsap, Tristan Thompson, Markieff Morris or Aron Baynes.

There’s more on the Heat:

Jimmy Butler‘s 30-point outburst in the Game 3 comeback solidified his reputation as a leader in big moments, Jackson notes in the same story. Butler joins Dwyane Wade as the only Miami players to score 25 points in the second half of multiple games in the same postseason. “He is the ultimate competitor,” Leonard said. “Everybody wondered, ‘Oh, well is he too competitive?’ He’s a winner. And he expects the same level of focus, effort, energy, mental focus, from his teammates. And you are seeing him not only do it himself, but he’s bringing the best out of others, as well.”
Bam Adebayo continue to gain notice from other players around the league, Jackson adds. Appearing on J.J. Redick‘s podcast, Timberwolves guard D’Angelo Russell said he would choose Adebayo if he were picking a team for the next 10 years.
Coach Erik Spoelstra said veteran forward Udonis Haslem was “controlling the huddles” Friday in an effort to inspire his teammates, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. “Our culture is probably UD screaming at everybody in one of the timeouts,” Spoelstra said. “And us liking it.”

Heat Notes: Free Agent Targets, Butler, Olynyk, Restart

June 4th, 2020 at 7:59pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Though adding reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to their exciting roster remains the top goal for the Heat in 2021 summer free agency, they have many other viable options if Antetokounmpo is unavailable or uninterested, according to The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson.

Even with the prospect of a slight decline in the 2021 NBA salary cap due to the coronavirus pandemic causing a league revenue loss, the Heat should still have the cap space to add a maximum-salary free agent next summer to go along their intriguing core of All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, plus developing rookies Kendrick Nunn and Tyler Herro.

Pacers All-Star Victor Oladipo, who trains in South Florida during the offseason, would be a great fit on the wing along with Butler, Jackson notes. Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, Celtics forward Gordon Hayward, and Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie number among Jackson’s other preferences for free agent additions to the Heat in 2021. Wizards guard Bradley Beal and Thunder guard Chris Paul may be available via trade.

There’s more news out of South Beach:

The Heat’s top free agent acquisition of 2019, All-NBA swing man Jimmy Butler, has returned to Miami this week in anticipation of a league restart as Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
With just eight non-playoff games left for the top 22 teams, the Heat have officially clinched a playoff berth, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). This means that Heat big man Kelly Olynyk will earn a $400K playoff bonus written into his contract.
The Heat’s status for the season restart was explored in another piece from The Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman. Production of Heat game broadcasts will be handled away from the games to accommodate COVID-19 personnel restrictions. Center Meyers Leonard, who injured his ankle during the Heat’s last game to this point, on March 11, has recovered and will be ready once play resumes.