The Detroit Pistons have been quite busy in the past week after they landed Cade Cunningham as the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The Pistons are now making the necessary moves to build around their new star, and their first free agency transaction has come in the form of former Houston Rockets big man Kelly Olynyk.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that Olynky has agreed to a three-year deal with Detroit worth $37 million:
Free agent Kelly Olynyk has agreed to a three-year, $37M deal with the Detroit Pistons, his agent Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2021
The Pistons are wasting no time here. This isn't exactly a franchise-altering move and Olynyk is by no means one of the headliners of the 2021 free agency class. Nevertheless, this could prove to be a key addition for Detroit as they look to add more depth to their frontcourt.
Last season, Olynyk averaged 19.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 triples per game with the Rockets. This was without a doubt the 30-year-old's best season of his career, and it has unsurprisingly earned him one huge payday.
In Detroit, Olynyk will likely be inserted into the starting lineup as a stretch four. The center position is pretty crowded right now with the highly promising Isiah Stewart looking to eat into the minutes of starting big man Mason Plumlee. Jahlil Okafor is also still with the Pistons and he should also be vying for playing time in head coach Dwayne Casey's rotation.
Be that as it may, Olynyk could prove to be a key piece for the Pistons this coming season. He's also a tested veteran, and he could be pivotal in the development of Detroit's young players.
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