We’re not saying that Kelly Olynyk’s performance in the final seven minutes of Game 6 between the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards is the only reason he just signed a $50 million-plus contract with the Miami Heat. But, we’re not not saying it either.
Olynyk, the 13th overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in 2013, was traded to the Celtics and has played for that squad for four seasons, averaging 9.5 PPG and 4.7 RPG as a backup center. However, the seven-footer became a short-lived Boston sports legend when he scored 12 points in a four-minute stretch and put up 26 overall to help the Celtics return to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2012.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRUfl2uE5hY
When Boston signed Gordon Hayward, that made Olynyk an unrestricted free agent. Clearly, he struck while the iron was hot.
In Miami, he’ll join Dion Waiters, who just re-signed with the team with his own four-year deal, as well as Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic, and Tyler Johnson. They’re not going to win the conference or anything but it should be an entertaining squad to watch.
As a Canadian, Olynyk also brings to Miami two very distinctly northern attributes. Number one, he’s extremely pasty and is probably going to have to slather on the sunscreen. At least he can afford plenty of it now. Number two, he is always going to be compared to other Canadians. Case in point…
https://twitter.com/JohnHarrelson18/status/883110609591701505
The Edmonton Oilers phenom is making $12.24625M per year under his new contract. Not that either of them needs to worry, but perhaps Olynyk will grab the bill if these two Canadian sports stars ever grab dinner together.
