The Miami Heat reached a deal with a free agent Thursday, but it wasn't the player many expected it to be. Big man Kelly Olynyk agreed to a four-year deal with Miami worth $50 million-plus, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The fourth year includes a player option.
Olynyk spent the last four seasons in Boston where he averaged 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, but the Celtics had to renounce their rights to him this week after landing All-Star forward Gordon Hayward in order to make room for him on their books.
The Heat came up short in the Hayward free agency sweepstakes after losing out to the Boston Celtics, who have agreed to pay Hayward $128 million on a four-year deal, but Olynyk's massive contract is certainly a head-scratcher given not only his limited production and usage with the Celtics -- but also his age.
Many expected Miami to reach a deal with forward James Johnson soon, but it hasn't happened yet.
Olynyk is a 26-year-old, 7-footer who could fill a role for the Heat as a stretch big man. He's a career 36.8 percent three-point shooter that will fit nicely in the Miami offense, but his ceiling is decidedly lower than most given his sample size in Boston and below average athleticism.
Miami now has an intriguing core of youngsters centered around Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic, Olynyk, Dion Waiters, and 2017 lottery pick Bam Adebayo.
