Celtics monitoring Jazz’s Kelly Olynyk for possible trade

Without question, the Celtics are looking to beef up their bench as they eye a run at a championship. And to do that, they just might try to bring back an old friend.

Per Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Boston is monitoring the availability of Jazz forward Kelly Olynyk, whose NBA career began with the Celtics (2013-17).

Olynyk is still booed every time he touches the ball in Cleveland, as he was a member of the Celtics when he pulled Kevin Love‘s shoulder out of the socket during the 2015 playoffs. Love immediately had surgery and missed the Cavs’ run to the Finals.

But that’s ancient history as Olynyk has been a key energy guy in Utah for the past season and a half. He’s the type of player the mighty Celtics could use in reserve behind the likes of Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford.

And it may not take a whole lot to get him. 

Obviously, the Celtics and Jazz have quite the connection, as former Celtics president Danny Ainge is now running the Jazz. The man Ainge hired to coach the team, Brad Stevens, is now Boston’s head of basketball operations.

That said, the Celtics may not be the only team with an interest.

“The 6-foot-11 Olynyk, who turns 33 in April, would seemingly make sense as a trade target for the Knicks as well given New York’s acute need for size in the wake of Mitchell Robinson‘s ankle injury that is feared to be season-ending,’ Stein wrote.