The NBA trade deadline has come and gone and the Boston Celtics’ roster remains unchanged, meaning the team can go forward addressing the issues at hand.
Chief among those issues is the status of forward Kelly Olynyk, who left last Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with a bruised right shoulder. In a conference call Thursday afternoon, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said Olynyk recently saw a Los Angeles-based doctor, and the consensus is he’ll miss at least two weeks.
“It’s still sore,” Ainge said. “He received treatment throughout the All-Star break in Canada from his trainer there, and he definitely won’t be playing for the next couple weeks, but we’re not sure. Right now it’s still sore and bothering him.”
Ainge added that Olynyk won’t require surgery for what he described as a “short-term ailment.” The team still will need to fill the big man’s void temporarily, though, and Jordan Mickey could be called upon to help play that role. The rookie flew out to Salt Lake City on Thursday to join the team ahead of Friday’s contest against the Utah Jazz.
Some speculation arose over whether Olynyk’s injury will impact the future of David Lee, who the Celtics reportedly plan on buying out after failing to move him at the trade deadline. But Ainge insisted the two developments aren’t related, adding that he’ll talk with Lee and his representatives “over the next 24 to 48 hours” to discuss “what’s best for us and what’s best for David.”
Olynyk’s offensive presence will be missed over the next two-plus weeks, as the 24-year-old is averaging 10.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and leads the team with a 41.3 percent 3-point percentage.
Thumbnail photo via Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports Images
