Everything 2021-22 Free Agency / Off-Season

[WJF]

For C, how about Kelly Olynyk... good ole' Toronto boy? He's a free agent this off-season.

He put up 19/8.5/4 in 31 MPG as a starter for the Rockets. Still in his prime (30 years old). Totally a Nurse type of floor spacing guy. He's also become a "plus defender" the last couple of years. Also a great passer.

The cherry on top: Olynyk always seems to have his biggest moments in the playoffs.

Richaun Holmes really doesn't seem like a guy who would fit Nurse's system, which is built around FVV's drive & kick to perimeter shooters game.

I have been thinking about Kelly and his fit for a while now. Offensively he is very versatile, he can handle the ball, shoo the three and is an very good passer for a big. While he is not a defensive menace, he is solid in the PnR and can wall up. He's not going to block a bunch of shots but he will be reliable. He also can play at the 4 spot due to his offensive versatility.

I would not feel bad going into next season with KO, Birch, and Freddy G as the 3 bigs. All three bring a little something different to the floor.

[planetmars]

I'd do Kelly for the mid-level if we bring Lowry back. If Lowry walks I'd still prefer Holmes. And I think $20M is too high. Harrell is the closest comp and he went for the mid-level. I mean he went for a ring and not the paycheck so you can admire that.. but he set a bar so to speak.

[DanH]

Yeah Olynyk is a nice option depending on what else they do.

[golden]

I brought up Olynyk last off-season and everybody slammed the idea. Baynes really lowered expectations around here, huh?

[A.I]

I brought up Olynyk last off-season and everybody slammed the idea. Baynes really lowered expectations around here, huh?

I think people complained about Baynes too. Difference being Olynyk has played well this season, Baynes has been the complete opposite.

[DanH]

I brought up Olynyk last off-season and everybody slammed the idea. Baynes really lowered expectations around here, huh?

You would have brought up trading for him, no? That's a little different than throwing an MLE at a guy, no?

[G__Deane]

I don't know if he cooled off as much as the Raps iced him. Lots of inconsistency in the line ups, random rest days etc. Not sure what this means for his contract but if he returns next season with this team, and they're playing out of Toronto, I expect big tings from Trent.

Then they were smart to lower his contract value after that one big game

[golden]

You would have brought up trading for him, no? That's a little different than throwing an MLE at a guy, no?

Nope. This was during the Finals and I was spit-balling a 1-year FA overpay, in case Olynyk opted out of his contract last off-season, but he didn't.

[planetmars]

Kelly is not a center. He's a forward that can play center. Like Birch or Boucher or OG. We needed a center when Gasol/Ibaka left.. and Baynes made sense. He learned how to shoot 3's and was a good defender in space. Father time got to him, or our system just doesn't suite him at all (I'm thinking it's the latter - and he'll be fine with another team next year).

I'd prefer a guy like Holmes because he can play big. I wouldn't want Kelly defending guys like Embiid, Capela, Noel/Robinson, Jordan, Giannis/Lopez, etc.

We need a guy that can hang with big centers. But he can be a good 6th or 7th man off the bench. Has playoff experience (he's the reason why Boston beat Washington a few years back). And is a proud Canadian which we can all admire.

[golden]

Kelly is not a center. He's a forward that can play center. Like Birch or Boucher or OG. We needed a center when Gasol/Ibaka left.. and Baynes made sense. He learned how to shoot 3's and was a good defender in space. Father time got to him, or our system just doesn't suite him at all (I'm thinking it's the latter - and he'll be fine with another team next year).

I'd prefer a guy like Holmes because he can play big. I wouldn't want Kelly defending guys like Embiid, Capela, Noel/Robinson, Jordan, Giannis/Lopez, etc.

We need a guy that can hang with big centers. But he can be a good 6th or 7th man off the bench. Has playoff experience (he's the reason why Boston beat Washington a few years back). And is a proud Canadian which we can all admire.

Yeah, we still need that Embiid stopper, or at least a big stiff who can take 6 hard fouls.

[LJ2]

For C, how about Kelly Olynyk... good ole' Toronto boy? He's a free agent this off-season.

He put up 19/8.5/4 in 31 MPG as a starter for the Rockets. Still in his prime (30 years old). Totally a Nurse type of floor spacing guy. He's also become a "plus defender" the last couple of years. Also a great passer.

The cherry on top: Olynyk always seems to have his biggest moments in the playoffs.

Richaun Holmes really doesn't seem like a guy who would fit Nurse's system, which is built around FVV's drive & kick to perimeter shooters game.

I'd be curious to know what Olynyk's numbers looked like in Miami, where they have a coach similar to Nurse that runs a more complicated system, prior to the Houston trade. I'm guessing not as good.

Houston is like Washington, the inmates are running the asylum so guys do whatever they want, put up big numbers and lose games.

[A.I]

Yeah, we still need that Embiid stopper, or at least a big stiff who can take 6 hard fouls.

Funnily enough Baynes did that. Raptors defending Embiid is an overall scheme than 1 big center. He hasn't played well against us this season.

[planetmars]

Funnily enough Baynes did that. Raptors defending Embiid is an overall scheme than 1 big center. He hasn't played well against us this season.

Didn't we rack up like 20 fouls on him.. he was living on the free throw line against us. There is a tactic, but it can backfire. And being in the penalty early or with guys in foul trouble spells doom.

[golden]

Didn't we rack up like 20 fouls on him.. he was living on the free throw line against us. There is a tactic, but it can backfire. And being in the penalty early or with guys in foul trouble spells doom.

Yeah, our Embiid strategy worked for just one game. Then, the very next game, their open shooters were ready and Korkmaz went off.... to add to the list of bench scrubs that have torched us this year. If got into the playoffs and met the Sixers in the playoffs, you can bet that Danny Green would somehow have hit all his open 3's to steal a game or 2.

[A.I]

Didn't we rack up like 20 fouls on him.. he was living on the free throw line against us. There is a tactic, but it can backfire. And being in the penalty early or with guys in foul trouble spells doom.

He averaged around 14 FTA in 3 games. Shot 32% from the field and averaged 24 and 15. Its not Marc Gasol level defense, but there are positives and negatives. Biggest issue was Embiid dominated the glass which was the Raptors biggest weakness this season.