The next 'Big Things': Watch out for these Rookies

Niagra v Notre Dame

1. Kelly Olynyk

Gonzaga v Southern

The 13th overall pick of this year’s draft, Canadian born Olynyk is a classic example of the fact that the cream of the crop might not always be the top draft picks. He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, but traded immediately to the Boston Celtics and will probably be a perfect fit for them. He’s a 7 footer, and can play in both PF and C positions. He might be expected to fill a part of the void left by K.G and Pierce.

Olynyk is versatile and he is the perfect combination of size and skill. Olynyk is a polished shooter. He scored 18 PPG at 58%. He also grabbed 7.9 RPG. His mid-range game is surprisingly strong and complements his offensive skills in the low post.

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The Celtics are currently rebuilding their team after the departure of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and Olynyk happened to be at the right place at the right time. There is one interesting point at play here – the Celtics are probably the only team which needed a good, talented, rookie in their squad. Every other major team already has young players competing for the top spot whereas, the Celtics, after trading KG and Pierce, are in need of fresh, young blood. The stage is set for Olynyk to showcase his talent.

He’s my prediction for the Rookie of the Year Award. Probably a little too early to predict, but he’s the only player to have shown that amount of promise.

Grizzlies Nation! You can check out the latest Memphis Grizzlies Schedule and dive into the Grizzlies Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.

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