Detroit Pistons: 3 veteran centers to target in Free Agency
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Pistons should consider signing free agent Kelly Olynyk.
After trading Mason Plumlee, the Detroit Pistons should be in the market to replace him with a veteran center with scoring upside to pair with the emerging Isaiah Stewart.
The 20-year old Stewart burst onto the scene during his rookie season, proving to be fierce on the boards and able to chip in on the score sheet when the opportunity arises.
Stewart averaged 7.9 points and 6.7 boards in 68 games last year despite averaging just 21.4 minutes per game. Stewart is expected to start for the Pistons in his second year.
Kelly Olynyk would compliment Stewart perfectly in 2021-22 if the Detroit Pistons decided to pursue him come Monday.
Olynyk has shot 36.7% from beyond the arc throughout his career. The 30-year old Toronto, Ontario native, averaged an eye-popping 19 points per game for the depleted Houston Rockets last season over 27 games after being traded from the Miami Heat.
With the Heat, Olynyk averaged 10 points in 43 contests. Olynyk is a proven shooter and consistent scorer who can play the four or five, bringing versatility to any lineup.
Olynyk helped the Heat reach the NBA Finals a year ago while in the COVID-19 bubble playing sparingly but scoring 7.6 points and pulling down 4.6 boards, averaging just 15.2 minutes per game.
Adding Olynyk will add a reliable center off the bench and buy time for rookie Luka Garza who the organization selected, 52nd overall to develop. The move will also make veteran Jahlil Okafor the third option at the position rather than the primary backup.
Olynyk should command around $12 million per season.