Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk may opt for offseason shoulder surgery. The big-man hurt his shoulder in the team’s first round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks and even missed one game before coming back surprisingly.
With the Celtics officially eliminated from the playoffs, however, Olynyk has claimed shoulder surgery may be in the books. While nothing has been set in stone, yet, it may be safe to assume that surgery is necessary and Olynyk will have a summer of rehab.
The three year pro has found himself a bit of a niche in the league as a stretch-big for the Celtics. Olynyk shot a career high 40.5% on threes this season and although his impact elsewhere is limited, that is a skill he can certainly build off of.
Olynyk is one of several young, talented players in Boston. His continued development will be huge for the team moving forward as they hope to build off of two straight first round exits.
If Olynyk does require surgery, he would likely be out for some time, but there is no telling whether he would be able to resume basketball activities by the time next season starts. Perhaps the fact that he and the Celtics are taking their time in making this decision shows that the timetable to recover will not be too long or affect his return next year.