The Klynyk: A new ceiling

[rondohondo]

Anyone remember what Dirk looked like his first season?

Year    Team    G    GS    MPG    FG%    3P%    FT%    OFF    DEF    RPG    APG    SPG    BPG    TO    PF    PPG
98-99    DAL    47    24    20.4    0.405    0.206    0.773    0.9    2.6    3.4    1.0    0.6    0.6    1.55    2.23    8.2

Well it isn't going to let me put the stat line in there where it is easy to read.  Lets just say he averaged 8.2pts a game and shot 20% from three point land without many rebounds or assists.  Can Olynyk do that?  I believe so.

Dirk was 2 years younger when he entered the league. What were his 3rd season stats?

[danglertx]

Anyone remember what Dirk looked like his first season?

Year    Team    G    GS    MPG    FG%    3P%    FT%    OFF    DEF    RPG    APG    SPG    BPG    TO    PF    PPG
98-99    DAL    47    24    20.4    0.405    0.206    0.773    0.9    2.6    3.4    1.0    0.6    0.6    1.55    2.23    8.2

Well it isn't going to let me put the stat line in there where it is easy to read.  Lets just say he averaged 8.2pts a game and shot 20% from three point land without many rebounds or assists.  Can Olynyk do that?  I believe so.

Dirk was 2 years younger when he entered the league. What were his 3rd season stats?

Dang it goes by age?  Does Durant get the benefit of that against in the MVP voting against Lebron?  Maybe we should just vote for all star games by how well people do at what age.

Does being 21 rather than 23 matter more or two years of experience in the league?

Dirk was even a pro in Germany before he played here.

[Celtics17]

I really don't understand why everyone is having a hard time believing this kid may be pretty good? He shoots, handles the ball, and apparently has a very high basketball iq. He's also supposedly got a great motor and played the point when younger. Is it so far fetched to think that maybe this guy will be a star someday?

I have only watched a few highlights so I really dont know but from what I'm reading he at least has a lot of the ingredients to be a pretty darn good baller. Can you imagine if McHale had played the point as a younger player what would he have played like then? I thought I saw a little Larry Bird in him myself.

[MBz]

He has shown that he has the potential to have some offensive game in the NBA.  Remember, summer league doesn't show you who can play, it just shows you who can't.  He still needs to improve his defense and his rebounding.  He's also turned the ball over quite a bit.  He's playing against scrubs right now, let's at least wait til the preseason to compare him to Dirk/other future hall of famers.

[hwangjini_1]

ceiling = 1st player off the bench on a top team, one that can go deep into the playoffs. or, a starter on a mediocre to poor team.

offense gets him playing time. limits on defense keeps him from playing time.

floor = out of the 8 man rotation on a top team, one that can go deep into the playoffs. or, a rotation player on a mediocre to poor team.

his offense is real and he is 7' with very good standing reach for a pf. he defense is limited by his athleticism (only fair, not exceptional). his intelligence and the team defense will help him, but he will not be able to defend the excellent/elite forwards in the nba.

he will have a role in the nba for many years coming off the bench, where his defense will be good enough against lesser talents and his offense will shine. he will be valuable to a good team.

i believe his eventual level will be much closer to the ceiling than the floor. he will be a very good, but not great player.

[erisred]

Anyone remember what Dirk looked like his first season?

Year    Team    G    GS    MPG    FG%    3P%    FT%    OFF    DEF    RPG    APG    SPG    BPG    TO    PF    PPG
98-99    DAL    47    24    20.4    0.405    0.206    0.773    0.9    2.6    3.4    1.0    0.6    0.6    1.55    2.23    8.2

Well it isn't going to let me put the stat line in there where it is easy to read.  Lets just say he averaged 8.2pts a game and shot 20% from three point land without many rebounds or assists.  Can Olynyk do that?  I believe so.

Dirk was 2 years younger when he entered the league. What were his 3rd season stats?

I really don't get the age thing in this case. Sure, if there was a 5 or 6 year difference I'd see it, but we're talking only a couple of years here...20 to 22, 21 to 23, something like that...and Dirk had already had a couple of years PRO experience over in Europe. IMO, pro experience trumps 2 years sitting on the bench, a red shirt year, and one year starting for the Zags.

Ah! But you say Kelly has already maxed out his "potential" at his age and Dirk was still...excuse me, but I disagree! Kelly has played as a big man one year, one year! Oly might have another year or two of actual growth, not taller, but coordination, agility, and simple body awareness. He's pretty good now, but just imagine he can still improve his ability to handle the ball and control his body, think about it. Now, add that somebody like McHale kept improving his post moves right up until he was in his late 20's and any number of 3 pt shooters keep improving as their careers progress.

We might not know Kelly's top end until he reaches it. That *could* be right now, but it could just as easily be five years, maybe even eight years, from now.

[LooseCannon]

He has shown that he has the potential to have some offensive game in the NBA.  Remember, summer league doesn't show you who can play, it just shows you who can't.  He still needs to improve his defense and his rebounding.  He's also turned the ball over quite a bit.  He's playing against scrubs right now, let's at least wait til the preseason to compare him to Dirk/other future hall of famers.

Can we compare him to non-HOFers and say he has a chance to be Andrea Bargnani with smart if unspectacular team defense that is not a liability and mediocre but not horrible rebounding?

[PhoSita]

his ceiling is luke harangody

Haha.  Ouch.

One thing they have in common is that they beat up on inferior competition, that's for sure.

If Luke Harangody could play exactly the same as he does now at 6'6'' at 7 feet tall, he'd be a pretty high quality player.

So I'm actually okay with that comparison.

[Sully7]

Not sure why people keep saying he's a bad rebounder....he averaged 7.3 last year and 7.3 in summer league.  I know he's 7ft tall but if he pulls down 7-8 boards a game at PF i'll be fine.

As for his athleticism, he's matched up with Nicholson, Jones, and Mitchel...clearly not NBA elite but athletic guys with size, and tooled on all of them...shooting 58%.

Sullinger had all the same knocks last year with less offensive upside....statistically he played great D for the C's last year and now most fans love him.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing.....

How he progresses in years 2 and 3 will decide everything

[GreenEnvy]

I doubt he will ever be an all-star, but I could see him potentially being a starter or very good bench player.

[wahz]

anyone know how long Birds arms were? What his vertical was? And Larry was 6'9" and an excellent rebounder. Not 7 feet.

KO is known for his motor. I saw Larry play well over 50 times in person and he was VERY often the fastest guy down the court. He was hustling but was fast from free throw line to free throw line

If KO can bring the ball up from before half court, not get stripped, pass and play excellent zone d, hustle and block out and shoot like heck...well he is LIKELY to be able to do those things.

He is a big find. Its gonna be amazing to watch his growth

[danglertx]

Not sure why people keep saying he's a bad rebounder....he averaged 7.3 last year and 7.3 in summer league.  I know he's 7ft tall but if he pulls down 7-8 boards a game at PF i'll be fine.

As for his athleticism, he's matched up with Nicholson, Jones, and Mitchel...clearly not NBA elite but athletic guys with size, and tooled on all of them...shooting 58%.

Sullinger had all the same knocks last year with less offensive upside....statistically he played great D for the C's last year and now most fans love him.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing.....

How he progresses in years 2 and 3 will decide everything

Isn't he like 3rd or 4th in the summer league in rebounding per game?  I'm not saying he is great but he holds his own and hustles, which is a big part of rebounding.  To be fair though, his teammates are horrible and somebody has to get the rebounds.

[Galeto]

anyone know how long Birds arms were? What his vertical was? And Larry was 6'9" and an excellent rebounder. Not 7 feet.

KO is known for his motor. I saw Larry play well over 50 times in person and he was VERY often the fastest guy down the court. He was hustling but was fast from free throw line to free throw line

If KO can bring the ball up from before half court, not get stripped, pass and play excellent zone d, hustle and block out and shoot like heck...well he is LIKELY to be able to do those things.

He is a big find. Its gonna be amazing to watch his growth

Why would you compare him to Larry Bird?  Just because Bird managed to do what he did with whatever physical limitations he had means squat with basically anyone else. 

Further, I don't think Olynyk is known for his motor.  He's known for his shooting, his diverse offensive game and his hair.  I've never read or heard his motor highlighted.  That's not a dig against Olynyk.  Praises about motor are usually dished out to role players like Faried and Oladipo and not so much to skilled guys. 

[Sully7]

anyone know how long Birds arms were? What his vertical was? And Larry was 6'9" and an excellent rebounder. Not 7 feet.

KO is known for his motor. I saw Larry play well over 50 times in person and he was VERY often the fastest guy down the court. He was hustling but was fast from free throw line to free throw line

If KO can bring the ball up from before half court, not get stripped, pass and play excellent zone d, hustle and block out and shoot like heck...well he is LIKELY to be able to do those things.

He is a big find. Its gonna be amazing to watch his growth

Why would you compare him to Larry Bird?  Just because Bird managed to do what he did with whatever physical limitations he had means squat with basically anyone else. 

Further, I don't think Olynyk is known for his motor.  He's known for his shooting, his diverse offensive game and his hair.  I've never read or heard his motor highlighted.  That's not a dig against Olynyk.  Praises about motor are usually dished out to role players like Faried and Oladipo and not so much to skilled guys.

just a quick google search:

News for kelly olynyk motor

Kelly Olynyk Displaying Elite Offensive Upside at 2013 NBA Summer League
Bleacher Report ‎- by Maxwell Ogden ‎- 7 hours ago
In turn, he's proven to not only be a motor player with passion (Tyler ... At the core of Kelly Olynyk's success is a powerful 7', 234-pound frame.
An In-Depth Scouting Report of Boston Celtics Draft Pick, Kelly Olynyk
www.celticsblog.com/.../in-depth-scouting-report-of-boston-celtics-draft-...‎
Jun 28, 2013 - Kelly Olynyk is one of the most NBA-ready big men in the 2013 NBA Draft ... post, but he does bring a very high motor to both ends of the floor.
Ex-Gonzaga player Kelly Olynyk scores 25 in summer-league game ...
seattletimes.com/html/nba/2021351162_digs08xml.html‎
4 days ago - Former Gonzaga standout Kelly Olynyk scored 25 points for the Boston Celtics in a summer-league game in Florida ... That's motor racing, man.
Kelly Olynyk - Pro Basketball Draft - Pro Basketball Draft
www.probasketballdraft.com/component/.../77.../759-kelly-olynyk.html‎
Kelly Olynyk is a very solid defensive player, bringing the energy and motor he displays on the offensive end and carrying it over to the other side of the ball.
Kelly Olynyk selected No. 13 by Boston Celtics in NBA draft | The ...

nba.si.com/2013/06/27/kelly-olynyk-nba-draft-2013/‎
by Rob Mahoney - in 741 Google+ circles
Jun 27, 2013 - Kelly Olynyk averaged 18.1 points and 7.3 rebounds at Gonzaga last season. ... An intelligent player with a strong motor, Olynyk finds a way to ...

[Tr1boy]

Ceiling- jefferson/nowitzki hybrid.

Basement - hawes/scola hybrid.

Unexpected failure - byron mullens

Ceiling - Dirk/Mchale

Basement - Hawes/Bargnani

lowest point - Fab Melo

Good ones. I like the mchale comparison.

But lowest point cant be true. He has already surpassed melo.