NBA rumor: Kelly Olynyk signs with Detroit Pistons. What does it mean?

According to ESPN, the Detroit Pistons have come to an agreement with free agent center/forward Kelly Olynyk.

The legal negotiating period for free agents began on Monday at 6 p.m., and (wink, wink) it apparently did not take long for the Pistons and Olynyk’s representatives to make a deal.

Later on, it was revealed that the final year of his contract will be a team option. At least legally, the deal can not be official until August 6. But, considering this information comes directly from Olynyk’s agent, it is probably a done deal.

Olynyk is a 6-11, 240 pounder out of Gonzaga who has eight years of NBA experience. This is not a part of some rebuilding for the future, as Olynyk is 30-years-old.

He has spent most of his career with the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat. However, it was his brief time spent at the end of the last season with the Houston Rockets, that might have boosted his value as a free agent.

Sent to a tanking Rockets squad as part of the Victor Oladipo trade, Olynyk thrived becoming a starter and go-to player. In 27 games, he averaged 19 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals.

He is playoff tested, having made the Eastern Conference finals with the Celtics and being part of the Heat’s run to the NBA finals in the Orlando Bubble last year.

Olynyk shot 39.2% from the three-point line during his time on Houston. He’s mades 36.7 percent of his threes in his careers.

Instant analysis: Why did Detroit Pistons sign Kelly Olynyk?

Olynyk’s salary is more than what the Pistons had been paying its starting center of last year, Mason Plumlee, who was traded on Draft Night to the Charlotte Hornets, by almost $4 million a year.

There are distinct differences between Plumlee and Olynyk’s games. Plumlee was not an outside shooter while Olynyk can hit the three-ball. Plumlee was also strictly a center while Olynyk can swing to the power forward spot, giving young Isaiah Stewart a chance to most likely play more, instead of splitting time at center with Plumlee.

Now, Plumlee is the better rebounder and pick setter. However, for what coach Dwane Casey may want to do, particularly with the addition of Cade Cunningham, obviously made them prefer Olynyk.

The Pistons may be looking for a ‘pick-and-pop’ center who is comfortable on the perimeter to keep the middle open. Cunningham is dangerous going to the hoop either as a scorer or distributor. Even last year, Hamidou Diallo and Jerami Grant also benefitted when there was no center anchored in the low post, clogging up the middle, so they could go strong to the basket.

This was a move geared toward a more wide-open offense the Pistons seem to be looking to create.