Chicago Bulls NBA free agency: Chicago should target Kelly Olynyk
Sweet-shooting big man Kelly Olynyk should be a free agent target for the Chicago Bulls.
The NBA free agency period will begin at midnight on Saturday, July 1st. With a rebuild clearly underway, the Chicago Bulls should not be major players in free agency this offseason. I would like to think that they learned from their mistakes by foolishly overpaying Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo last offseason. That being said, that does not mean that the Bulls should sit out all of free agency.
John Paxson and Gar Forman would be wise to keep an eye out for undervalued talent who can help their rebuild. Ideally, the Bulls would be able to find a younger free agent or two who fits Fred Hoiberg‘s system well to add to the mix. Kelly Olynyk of the Boston Celtics stands out as a possible strong fit.
The 26-year-old Olynyk is technically a restricted free agent, meaning the Celtics can match any offer that he gets in free agency. However, with the Celtics having big plans to land both Gordon Hayward and Paul George this offseason, they are looking to clear cap space. A return to Boston is extremely unlikely for Olynyk and he will probably be made an unrestricted free agent by the team.
Why the Chicago Bulls should have interest
As a seven-footer with a nice shooting touch, Olynyk is an interesting player who fits the modern NBA extremely well. He is a career 37% shooter from three-point range and also shows a well-rounded offensive skill set. Olynyk can score from the inside, handles the ball well for a big man and is an excellent passer.
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He is not a great defender or rebounder, but Olynyk does have a scrappiness to him that allows him to compete on the inside. He is not an ideal center against all teams, but Olynyk has shown the ability to be a weapon as a stretch five in smaller lineups.
With fewer teams having cap space, NBA free agency does not figure to be as wild as last season. There will be players available who can be had at a nice value. If Olynyk ends up being one of those players who slips through the cracks, the Chicago Bulls should make him a priority.
What about Mirotic?
Adding Olynyk would likely mean the end of Nikola Mirotic‘s time with the Bulls. Mirotic is a restricted free agent who the Bulls have shown an interest in bringing back. However, Olynyk has a more dynamic offensive game, shoots better from the outside and fits Hoiberg’s system better.
As another positive, bringing in Olynyk helps keep the pressure off of rookie Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen is also a seven-footer who shoots well from the outside. However, he must get some time to work on the rest of his game before becoming a major contributor. Having Olynyk around would allow the Bulls to bring Markkanen along slowly.
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Most importantly, Olynyk is still a relatively young player who could legitimately become an important part of the Bulls’ rebuild. He never had a full opportunity to shine in Boston. With the Bulls having many shots available, Olynyk would have a complete opportunity to showcase his talent.
I am not saying that the Chicago Bulls should break the bank for Kelly Olynyk. That said, if the price is right, he would be a strong fit for their roster.