
Detroit Pistons players most likely to get traded by the deadline: Kelly Olynyk
Perhaps outside of Jerami Grant, no player on the roster is more of a proven commodity that can immediately contribute to winning than Kelly Olynyk. Before being sequestered in Houston after the trade deadline last season, the big man had played meaningful playoff minutes with the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics for the better part of a decade. While he fills a necessary role on the Pistons as the reserve big man who can stretch the floor, he may be better suited elsewhere.
Potentially, the factor most preventing a trade is the center’s contract. Over the offseason, Olynyk signed a three-year, $37 million contract, with the last season being a team option.
That is not a huge number to attempt to move, but oftentimes, teams looking to win in the margins tend to prefer an expiring contract rather than a long-term commitment.
Kelly Olynyk showed me where the scratches were. Saddiq Bey called him "the anchor." He and Blake Griffin keep having to be separated.
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) November 8, 2021
Beef Stew embodies "Detroit vs. Everybody," and it's part of why he's turning into the heart of the Pistons' restorationhttps://t.co/8Ko2VgG3Gq
Olynyk is off to a good start to the season, averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. His shot is not falling as often as normal (34.1 percent from distance), but that should change with time.
Much like the next, and final, name on this list, Olynyk is not someone the team should be looking to move. However, if the right trade were to come along, it would not hurt to enter negotiations with an open mind.