Robb: Examining Why The Celtics Signed And Waived Ryan Kelly So Quickly
By Brian Robb, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) – Less than 24 hours after signing free agent Ryan Kelly, the Celtics waived the 6-foot-11 forward on Saturday, mere hours ahead of Monday's roster cutdown deadline.
The Atlanta Hawks also released Kelly early last week after the Duke product failed to make their final 15-man roster. The Celtics elected to pick up the ex-Laker after he cleared waivers, but many fans are rightly wondering what exactly is the point of Danny Ainge signing and releasing a player like Kelly in a 24-hour timespan?
The answer boils down to Boston having the opportunity to take a closer look at Kelly in the D-League. A NBA team maintains primary D-League rights on four players that were waived by said team during the preseason. Three of those players for Boston are already likely headed to the Maine Red Claws (Jalen Jones, Damien Lee, Marcus Georges-Hunt) after being let go following Boston's preseason finale on Wednesday. The final candidate for that D-League slot (second round Celtics pick Ben Bentil) will not be heading to Maine it appears, according to Ainge.
"I think that Ben will look for other opportunities," he said Friday. "We are just so loaded at the [4] with Jaylen and Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk and Al Horford. We have a lot of guys that play the 4 position. I think that he probably wants to look for somewhere that might have more of an opportunity."
Bentil's decision to pass on the D-League given their meager player salaries ($26,000 max) is understandable, but it also left the Celtics with an opening to find a fourth player it could be given primary D-League rights for, Kelly was the prospect that became appealing to Ainge to fill that spot.
Since the Hawks do not have a D-League affiliate, the Celtics were able to gain Kelly's D-League rights by signing him to a non-guaranteed deal and waiving him within 24 hours. He'll likely sign in D-League as a Tier A player (top salary of $26,000) and be assigned to the Red Claws (bypassing the D-League draft), allowing Boston's scouting staff to get a closer look at him.
Kelly spent his first three NBA seasons as a Laker, starting 59 of the 147 games he played in since 2013. The 25-year-old struggled with his shot (38.1 percent career shooter) despite his 6-11 frame. He's averaged 6.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game during his career, but saw his playing time diminish heavily last season before being let go. Despite the step back in his career, Brad Stevens is a big fan of what he brings to the table.
"He killed us (with the Lakers) two years ago," Stevens told reporters Saturday at practice. "He had 19 [points]. I think it was here (in Boston) wasn't it? And spacing the floor, and he passes the ball. Kind of what we were talking about with Kelly (Olynyk). His ability to make the right basketball play has always been one of his greatest strengths."
While the Celtics won't have any room for Kelly on the 15-man roster for the foreseeable future, he could be an option for the team later this year if a roster spot opens up. For now, he's headed to Maine.
Brian Robb covers the Celtics for CBS Boston and contributes to NBA.com, among other media outlets. You can follow him on Twitter @CelticsHub.
