Celtics Trade With Mavs, Draft Gonzaga Center Kelly Olynyk 13th Overall
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Celtics made a draft night trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, swapping the 16th for the 13th overall pick and acquiring seven-footer Kelly Olynyk.
Olynyk set career highs at Gonzaga in 2012-13, averaging 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds as a junior when he was a consensus All-American and named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year. From the floor, he shot an impressive 62.9-percent.
He redshirted after his sophomore year and re-invented his game, according to several scouting reports, becoming a much better offensive player in the post. Olynyk recorded five double-doubles and had 13 20+ point games last season.
Celtics GM Danny Ainge said Thursday night he doesn't envision the Celtics using Olynyk as a center, but at the power forward position. And while Ainge doesn't see his latest selection as a star player, he thinks he'll fit in well with the remaining players on a rebuilding Celtics' roster.
"He's a really good complimentary player," Ainge said Thursday night shortly after the selection. "He's not a go-to guy, he's not a star player, but he's a really good teammate-type player – he compliments other guys."
Though a gifted offensive player, the knocks on Olynyk are his defense and athleticism.
Olynyk was a point guard until his junior year of high school, when he had a seven-inch growth spurt.
With the 16th pick, Boston selected Lucas Nogueira before sending him off to Dallas -- who then traded the selection to the Atlanta Hawks.
In addition to the 16th overall pick, the Celtics will reportedly send a pair of future second-round picks to Dallas.
