Miami Heat: 5 goals for Kelly Olynyk in 2017-18

3. Became an additional playmaker

Last season, the Heat as a team ranked 22nd in the league in assists at 21.2 per game. By way of comparison, there were four teams in the league who averaged at least 25.0 assists per game. For the season, the Heat themselves had just 18 games in which they dished 25 or more assists.

So while Olynyk himself averaged just 2.0 assists per game, this is another aspect of his game that can be further utilized. For the season, Olynyk had 24 games in which he registered three or more assists. Astonishingly, the Celtics posted a 22-2 record over these games.

By way of comparison, incumbent Heat center Hassan Whiteside had 39 games where he failed to register a single assist, and just 17 games where he dished out multiple assists. In essence, this demonstrates the point of difference Olynyk can provide the Heat frontcourt this season.

His ability to play both on the low block and out on the perimeter means the Heat are going to be able to feature various looking lineups throughout the course of this season. One example from last season is his five-assist game last season against the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. Olynyk’s ability to handle the ball and distribute from a number of spots were a key factor in the Celtics pulling off the impressive road win.

Recently, Olynyk explained that the Heat’s “positionless”playing style was one aspect that attracted him to landing own Miami:

"“….just that freedom to be able to play easy and free and not super-regimented is huge. I think it helps everybody out. It helps everybody’s skills, to be able to just kind of go with the flow and make things happen. That’s something that looking at Miami and talking to Spo and what his vision is and how they play, it’s something that’s very intriguing.”"

Therefore, both Olynyk and the Heat will be eagerly anticipating just how the 25-year-old Canadian fits into this role.