KO playing a significant role on the path Front Office takes with team

[CelticsFanFromNYC]

Seems like right now with Sullinger's departure, Olynyk is forced to be a  x-factor like player in the starting lineup or a crucial part of the 2nd unit.  I Kind of  feel like his play this season may dictate what path the Celtics will take with their big man situation. Can it be the difference in going all in on Cousins?? Not saying KO is holding us back from a superstar but he might possibly be the difference in a big package deal that turns  into "One too many players"

 Maybe this was DA's and BS's logic? The projects were KO and Sully. By next season do they turn into, Mickey and Yabusele with Ante in the D-league reaching in? Zeller's 8 million dollar contract seems as it can go both way as a pretty decent backup salary in today's cap era or a nice tradable contract. If your not expecting him to pass the ball efficiently, you dont lose much plugging him into KO's role as a back up.


This same concept can be said for Smart as well. I'd an almost sure this season might not be fireworks BUT! when all the trades  and off season signings are done This WILL be our team defining season

[arctic 3.0]

I've heard it said that bigs take longer to come into their own.

KO has so many tools and so many unique traits for a big man, if he can pull it all together and learn to bring it every day he could be awesome

This may be the year that he shows us if he is on the way to putting it all together.

Or it could be another year of slow progress and frustrating inconcistancy.
If that's the case then next year he will likely be working to put it all together on another team.

[Eja117]

I just have a hard time imagining KO becoming much more than he is now. He's a fine player, but I feel like he's a lot closer to rich man's Scala than poor man's Dirk.

How will the rebounding and defense improve?

[Tr1boy]

KO ability to take it to the next step will be what he does with his body

He needs to eventually get to the best conditioning possible

I'm confident will be get there. It could be this upcoming season (though the surgery several months ago could slow this down) and if not, pending no injuries next season.

i see the confidence in his game now and more often than not will make the open 3s.  He was very decisive last season in his actions vs 1st two years in the league (passing up open shots, over helping on the defensive end).   What is missing is "additional strength" "quickness" (just a tad, because can't imagine he can get that much quicker)

[alldaboston]

I just have a hard time imagining KO becoming much more than he is now. He's a fine player, but I feel like he's a lot closer to rich man's Scala than poor man's Dirk.

How will the rebounding and defense improve?

Don't the advanced stats show him to be a fairly capable defender? That's what I recall seeing on here many times throughout the season.

[Surferdad]

I just have a hard time imagining KO becoming much more than he is now. He's a fine player, but I feel like he's a lot closer to rich man's Scala than poor man's Dirk.

How will the rebounding and defense improve?

Don't the advanced stats show him to be a fairly capable defender? That's what I recall seeing on here many times throughout the season.

KO is a capable on-ball positioning defender but can be better.  He can get beat in a strength match-up currently so his defense should improve if he gets stronger.

[Tr1boy]

KO is better than a capable defender.  His defensive rating was good all year long

when he is on the floor, the "team offense" looks stressed. Just because of his size, instincts , mobility

Now you give it to an Anthony Davis move out of the way ,  KO will have issues containing him 1 on 1

So as of now, very good team defender and needs to take his conditioning to the next step to be an adequate 1 on 1 defender against top players

[walker834]

I've heard it said that bigs take longer to come into their own.

KO has so many tools and so many unique traits for a big man, if he can pull it all together and learn to bring it every day he could be awesome

This may be the year that he shows us if he is on the way to putting it all together.

Or it could be another year of slow progress and frustrating inconcistancy.
If that's the case then next year he will likely be working to put it all together on another team.

This about sums it up.  I think KO has more potential than he realizes sometimes.  He plays like he is picking daisies.  He may suffer somewhat and never reach his potential because he was really brought up in a bubble here.  I think KO more than anyone has been allowed that and just to develop slowly which may pay off and improve slowly or he may just remain the way he is.  Still could be a late bloomer but he needs to be challenged somewhat. He reminds me of the movie Avatar for some reason.

Mchale was a 6th man and a late bloomer of sorts.  Not really comparing the two, but KO could have a very long career but he needs to be challenged at some point.  He's had it pretty easy so far.

KO is a bubble boy in ways.  I see so much potential in him at times but other times he really doesn't bring it out.  He rarely does.  I think Stevens said something along those lines too when KO was like the bounce is real.  He doesn't bring it out too often.

[clover]

KO is better than a capable defender.  His defensive rating was good all year long

when he is on the floor, the "team offense" looks stressed. Just because of his size, instincts , mobility

Now you give it to an Anthony Davis move out of the way ,  KO will have issues containing him 1 on 1

So as of now, very good team defender and needs to take his conditioning to the next step to be an adequate 1 on 1 defender against top players

That's a fair assessment.

[Csfan1984]

Should have drafted Lab at 16 to push KO.

[dreamgreen]

KO needs to do 3 things:

1. stop reaching on defense
2. shoot more
3. take it to the basket more, I like it when he takes it to the hoop

[clover]

I've heard it said that bigs take longer to come into their own.

KO has so many tools and so many unique traits for a big man, if he can pull it all together and learn to bring it every day he could be awesome

This may be the year that he shows us if he is on the way to putting it all together.

Or it could be another year of slow progress and frustrating inconcistancy.
If that's the case then next year he will likely be working to put it all together on another team.

This about sums it up.  I think KO has more potential than he realizes sometimes.  He plays like he is picking daisies.  He may suffer somewhat and never reach his potential because he was really brought up in a bubble here.  I think KO more than anyone has been allowed that and just to develop slowly which may pay off and improve slowly or he may just remain the way he is.  Still could be a late bloomer but he needs to be challenged somewhat. He reminds me of the movie Avatar for some reason.

Mchale was a 6th man and a late bloomer of sorts.  Not really comparing the two, but KO could have a very long career but he needs to be challenged at some point.  He's had it pretty easy so far.

KO is a bubble boy in ways.  I see so much potential in him at times but other times he really doesn't bring it out.  He rarely does.  I think Stevens said something along those lines too when KO was like the bounce is real.  He doesn't bring it out too often.

That's a fair assessment too.

[Greyman]

As the team is still one or two players short the pressure is on KO and a number of players to prove themselves as part of the Celtics future. Young players in nearly every position waiting their opportunity and someone established possibly being part of any package to bring the next upgrade in means you must perform consistently.

DA's statement that the price being asked for the players he was chasing was too much means he sees value in assets like KO. There were probably many varied packages tabled during the last few months and it is difficult to say what the whole packages were or what part KO made up of any, if any at all. End result though, he is valuable enough to be a Celtic still.

At this point KO should be ready to step up in terms of responsibility and contribution, or he is just what he has been. He has been good and shown great potential but there comes a time when potential must turn into product. The older, stronger body and a couple of small improvements here and there would add to his value to the team significantly. I believe he has it in him to make that improvement, the season will tell.

[Denis998]

He is essentially going to b more or less the same player he was last season. His off season surgery made sure of it.

[LilRip]

He really needs to start shooting more. He's probably the best 3 point shooter on the team, alongside Bradley? We need him to space the floor. It'll open up everyone's game.