Olynyk thriving for Rockets after trade
Harkless gets chance after moving to Kings
As the Miami Heat await Victor Oladipo’s debut with the team, players sent out at last week’s NBA trading deadline have been making an impact.
Kelly Olynyk, traded to the Houston Rockets to help balance the deal for Oladipo under the salary cap, is coming off a season-high 25-point performance in Monday night’s Rockets loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. He previously scored 16 points in his Rockets debut, in a Saturday victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“We have a bunch of new guys playing together, trying to figure out the system,” Olynyk said.” We haven’t practiced once since I’ve been here. For us, it’s just about playing hard on both ends of the floor, playing together, moving the ball offensively, creating shots for each other.”
Olynyk said playing with John Wall has eased the transition.
“Obviously,” Olynyk said, “playing with a great point guard like John, he knows what actions he wants me to get in.”
Guard Avery Bradley, also sent to Houston in the Oladipo deal, made his Rockets debut Monday, scoring three points in 15 minutes. He had not played since Feb. 3, missing the final six weeks of his Heat tenure due to a calf strain.
“I envision Avery kind of being a multi-purpose guy,” Rocket coach Stephen Silas said. “He’s one of the best one-on-one defenders in the NBA over the last 10 years. He’ll have that role.”
It was initially thought that Olynyk and Bradley might be buyout candidates, with Houston’s youth movement, with some reports having linked Olynyk to a return to the Boston Celtics and Bradley a return to the Los Angeles Lakers. At least for the moment, that does not appear to be the approach by the Rockets.
“One of the advantages of the rebuild construct we’re doing,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said, “is there’s a place for veterans on your team stabilizing influences, helping younger players develop in the right way. I think a good mix of old and young is attractive.”
Harkless, too
Then there is forward Maurice Harkless, who was sent to the Sacramento Kings in the trade that landed outside-shooting big man Nemanja Bjelica with the Heat.
Harkless scored 13 points in 14 minutes in Monday’s Kings victory over the San Antonio Spurs, after scoring 15 total points in his 11 appearances with the Heat.
Harkless went scoreless in his Kings debut, the night Sacramento defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers on a buzzer beater from Harrison Barnes.
“It’s definitely a great way to get started,” Harkless said. “It felt good to be on the floor with the guys, and the dramatic ending. I couldn’t ask for a better ending for the first game.”
Chris Silva, also acquired by the Kings in the Bjelica deal, made his Sacramento debut Monday, with two points in the victory over the Spurs.
Oladipo is expected to make his Heat debut later this week, as he gets past a cold that has him remaining behind in Miami. Bjelica went scoreless in his Heat debut a single 5:02 stint in Monday night’s victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Bally Sports Sun
Beginning with Wednesday’s 7 p.m. road game vs. the Indiana Pacers, the Heat’s broadcast network will be known as Bally Sports Sun.
As part of the rollout of the new branding, the network in an 11 a.m. Thursday show will feature a one-on-one interview with Heat center Bam Adebayo.
Injury report
Kendrick Nunn (ankle) has been upgraded to questionable for Wednesday night’s game, after missing Monday night’s victory in New York, with Oladipo (illness), KZ Okpala (pandemic protocols) and Udonis Haslem (pandemic protocols) out. Gabe Vincent (knee) is probable.