The Miami Heat are at a crossroads with Kelly Olynyk and his future with the team.
By next summer, Olynyk can opt out of the four-year, $50 million contract he signed with the Heat two years ago, leaving Miami with a crucial move to make by the NBA’s trade deadline early next year.
The presence of a four-time All-Star in Jimmy Butler dictates that the Heat field in a competitive roster throughout his time with the franchise. Miami wants to become a championship contender once again, but losing Olynyk to another ball club in the 2020 offseason would be a step in the wrong direction.
The Sun Sentinel’s Ira Winderman explained an option which the Heat could consider instead. However, Winderman also cautioned against following through with the option he has in mind.
“The alternative could eventually be re-upping with Olynyk next summer on a long-term contract that replaces the option year,” wrote Winderman. “The complication with such an approach is that it could then freeze the Heat out of 2021 free agency, when the robust outside possibilities could include Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bradley Beal, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Blake Griffin, Jrue Holiday and Victor Oladipo.”
Clearly, the decision whether to send the 7-foot center packing or not largely depends on how he performs from the opening tip of the 2019-20 regular season until the trade deadline. If he shows how invaluable he is to the team as a stretch 4 or 5, then Winderman’s suggestion could be the Heat’s best move.
“It is why every game with Olynyk, especially the early season-games with Olynyk, will matter, because by the trading deadline the Heat may have to know where they are headed in their power rotation and how Olynyk, still only 28, fits into that mix,” Winderman added.
The Gonzaga University product averaged 10.0 points on 46.3 percent shooting from the field and 35.4 percent from 3-point range last season. He started in 36 games for the Heat, the most starts he has had in his six years in the league.
Olynyk was in the news recently after injuring himself during a friendly match at the FIBA World Cup. He is reportedly expected to miss only a week for the Canadian national team and should be ready to get back into action soon.