KO...yes or no???

[Mazingerz]

We Keep him. We have him on team control for 4 years, and he has had more games excelling versus his fellow rookies.

[PickNRoll]

A few months ago I had nearly given up on Olynyk.  Now, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  He's underdeveloped in a way similar to Gerald Green.  Even though Green has always been able to jump out of the gym, he's only recently come to terms with his limited lateral mobility.  He either spots up OR he drives (only) when he comes off a pick clean.  He rarely drives after facing up an opponent. His first step just isn't good enough, but it took him years to understand that.  He hasn't learned any NEW talents per se, but he understands his limits now and the results speak for themselves. He's aware of how matchups should impact his decisions.  I think KO faces a similar trajectory.  Should be fun to watch.

I never thought I'd see Kelly Olynyk compared to Gerald Green.

What do you mean? There has never been a player more like Gerald Green in the history of the Boston Celtics.

The comparison was more mental -- understanding your limits.  They're both a little knock-kneed too, which presents some similar problems for them.  That's where the comp ends.

[kozlodoev]

FWIW, he's 6th on the KIA rookie ladder and imo has a higher upside than some of the other pople above him.

definitely. Compare Cody Zeller , Alex Len stats vs KO's . None of them have multiple 17 plus point and several 20 point games

Adam Morrison had 21 17-plus point games in his rookie year. I guess it's alright because he also has 2 NBA championships to show for it.

[Boris Badenov]

FWIW, he's 6th on the KIA rookie ladder and imo has a higher upside than some of the other pople above him.

definitely. Compare Cody Zeller , Alex Len stats vs KO's . None of them have multiple 17 plus point and several 20 point games

Adam Morrison had 21 17-plus point games in his rookie year. I guess it's alright because he also has 2 NBA championships to show for it.

Yi Jianlan might be an even better comp for KO's first season, in scoring and many other areas - except that Yi was only 20 in his rookie year and KO is 22.

http://bkref.com/tiny/fSYLT

(Edit: actually Yi might also have been 22. I forgot about his age issues.)

[D.o.s.]

FWIW, he's 6th on the KIA rookie ladder and imo has a higher upside than some of the other pople above him.

definitely. Compare Cody Zeller , Alex Len stats vs KO's . None of them have multiple 17 plus point and several 20 point games

Pretty interesting players to compare and contrast:
http://bkref.com/tiny/OWApm


Also - Olynyk averages 6.1 fouls per 36. Hahahaha.

[PhoSita]

FWIW, he's 6th on the KIA rookie ladder and imo has a higher upside than some of the other pople above him.

definitely. Compare Cody Zeller , Alex Len stats vs KO's . None of them have multiple 17 plus point and several 20 point games

Adam Morrison had 21 17-plus point games in his rookie year. I guess it's alright because he also has 2 NBA championships to show for it.

Yi Jianlan might be an even better comp for KO's first season, in scoring and many other areas - except that Yi was only 20 in his rookie year and KO is 22.

http://bkref.com/tiny/fSYLT

(Edit: actually Yi might also have been 22. I forgot about his age issues.)

Looks like KO is a significantly better rebounder and passer, and also has a legitimate 3 point shot.  Also KO has much better ORTG / DRTG compared to Yi's horrible 98/112.

[kozlodoev]

Looks like KO is a significantly better rebounder and passer, and also has a legitimate 3 point shot.  Also KO has much better ORTG / DRTG compared to Yi's horrible 98/112.

Yi is a .333 career three-point shooter. Also, I haven't found the BBRef ORTG/DRTG to be any useful, but that's just me.

In any case, all I wanted to point out is that having a handful of big scoring games doesn't really mean much -- especially on a god-awful team.

[PhoSita]

Looks like KO is a significantly better rebounder and passer, and also has a legitimate 3 point shot.  Also KO has much better ORTG / DRTG compared to Yi's horrible 98/112.

Yi is a .333 career three-point shooter. Also, I haven't found the BBRef ORTG/DRTG to be any useful, but that's just me.

In any case, all I wanted to point out is that having a handful of big scoring games doesn't really mean much -- especially on a god-awful team.

Looking at least at his rookie year numbers, he averaged 1 3 point attempt every other game, and he hit less than 30% of them.

You're right, though, plenty of rookies who have nice scoring nights playing for bad teams never amount to anything.

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

Also -- just because a guy (like Yi, or Morrison) didn't end up sticking around in the league doesn't mean he never had the skills or physical attributes to do it.  Each guy, I think, had the potential to become a useful role player, albeit a fairly limited one.  Neither guy realized that potential, for whatever reason.

[kozlodoev]

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

I agree with that. But I feel the degree of usefulness is still unclear -- he may end up being useful in the Matt Bonner/Steve Novak way.

Ultimately, thought, it's worth noting that those two are only in the league because they're automatic from three point range, and Olynyk isn't (and probably won't ever really be).

[Celtics18]

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

I agree with that. But I feel the degree of usefulness is still unclear -- he may end up being useful in the Matt Bonner/Steve Novak way.

Ultimately, thought, it's worth noting that those two are only in the league because they're automatic from three point range, and Olynyk isn't (and probably won't ever really be).

It's also worth pointing out that Klynyk has a waaay more diverse basketball skill set than either of those two have ever had. 

[D.o.s.]

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

I agree with that. But I feel the degree of usefulness is still unclear -- he may end up being useful in the Matt Bonner/Steve Novak way.

Ultimately, thought, it's worth noting that those two are only in the league because they're automatic from three point range, and Olynyk isn't (and probably won't ever really be).

It's also worth pointing out that Klynyk has a waaay more diverse basketball skill set than either of those two have ever had.

It's not about having a diverse skill set, though. It's about being able to do at least one thing well enough to stay in the NBA.

[Celtics18]

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

I agree with that. But I feel the degree of usefulness is still unclear -- he may end up being useful in the Matt Bonner/Steve Novak way.

Ultimately, thought, it's worth noting that those two are only in the league because they're automatic from three point range, and Olynyk isn't (and probably won't ever really be).

It's also worth pointing out that Klynyk has a waaay more diverse basketball skill set than either of those two have ever had.

It's not about having a diverse skill set, though. It's about being able to do at least one thing well enough to stay in the NBA.

. . . if your ceiling is that of a role playing specialist, which I don't believe Kelly's is.

[LooseCannon]

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

I agree with that. But I feel the degree of usefulness is still unclear -- he may end up being useful in the Matt Bonner/Steve Novak way.

Ultimately, thought, it's worth noting that those two are only in the league because they're automatic from three point range, and Olynyk isn't (and probably won't ever really be).

It's also worth pointing out that Klynyk has a waaay more diverse basketball skill set than either of those two have ever had.

It's not about having a diverse skill set, though. It's about being able to do at least one thing well enough to stay in the NBA.

Kelly Olynyk is good at being seven-foot-tall.  Many worse but equally tall players have carved out journeymen careers of decent length.

[D.o.s.]

Still, at least for me, KO passes the eye test as a guy who has the size and skills to become a pretty useful player.  That doesn't mean he's guaranteed to get there.

I agree with that. But I feel the degree of usefulness is still unclear -- he may end up being useful in the Matt Bonner/Steve Novak way.

Ultimately, thought, it's worth noting that those two are only in the league because they're automatic from three point range, and Olynyk isn't (and probably won't ever really be).

It's also worth pointing out that Klynyk has a waaay more diverse basketball skill set than either of those two have ever had.

It's not about having a diverse skill set, though. It's about being able to do at least one thing well enough to stay in the NBA.

Kelly Olynyk is good at being seven-foot-tall.  Many worse but equally tall players have carved out journeymen careers of decent length.

Yup. I expect him to get one more multi-year NBA contract.

[dreamgreen]

A few months ago I had nearly given up on Olynyk.  Now, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  He's underdeveloped in a way similar to Gerald Green.  Even though Green has always been able to jump out of the gym, he's only recently come to terms with his limited lateral mobility.  He either spots up OR he drives (only) when he comes off a pick clean.  He rarely drives after facing up an opponent. His first step just isn't good enough, but it took him years to understand that.  He hasn't learned any NEW talents per se, but he understands his limits now and the results speak for themselves. He's aware of how matchups should impact his decisions.  I think KO faces a similar trajectory.  Should be fun to watch.

I never thought I'd see Kelly Olynyk compared to Gerald Green.

What do you mean? There has never been a player more like Gerald Green in the history of the Boston Celtics.

The comparison was more mental -- understanding your limits.  They're both a little knock-kneed too, which presents some similar problems for them.  That's where the comp ends.

So glad you said that I have been thinking about that, you must have been the same person who said that about Gerald Green years age. Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. does that mean?