For the Heat, Kelly Olynyk‘s $13.1M player-option decision could potentially limit the team in available cap space or assist the club in the trade market, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes.
Olynyk, who played meaningful minutes off the bench this season, could choose to exercise the option and return to Miami for a fourth straight season or test free agency. Miami is known for being active in trade discussions, however, acquiring All-Star Jimmy Butler last year in a sign-and-trade that nearly included Olynyk.
He said of the situation:
“I mean, on that night I thought I was going to Dallas. I thought it was over. Not over, but I thought it was done, that it was a done deal. Like when I heard, people were calling me, I thought it was done.
“And then it unraveled or got revoked. I’m not sure how it went down, but I stayed in Miami.”
The Heat wound up sending Hassan Whiteside to Portland, Josh Richardson to Philadelphia and a first-round pick to the Clippers, bringing over Butler, Meyers Leonard and cash considerations in return. Olynyk was once again a key cog in the team’s rotation this season, averaging 8.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 19.4 minutes while shooting 41 percent from deep.
“You never know, the grass could be greener, or there could be no grass over there,” Olynyk said, acknowledging his name could still appear in future trade rumors. “So you really have no clue. And that’s in everything in life, not just basketball, not just sports.”
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