West Notes: Jazz, Kelly Olynyk, Timberwolves, Grizzlies

Jazz

The trade that sent forward/center Kelly Olynyk from the Pistons to the Jazz caught him by surprise, he says, but he’s excited about his new spot.

The deal reunites Olynyk with Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, as the two were together with the Celtics.

“It’s crazy because when I got drafted by Boston, we were almost in the exact same situation with Danny that they’re in here right now,” Olynyk said, via Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune. “You have some older guys with experience, you have some young guys, you got a bunch of draft picks coming in for the next few years, and you’re just trying to get better every single day, whatever that is.”

The Jazz have undergone quite a facelift, trading away Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Bojan Bogdanovic and Royce O’Neale, all starters last season. In are the likes of Olynyk, Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, Talen Horton-Tucker and plenty others. Oh, and lots of draft picks.

“And in Boston, we had a young first-year coach in Brad (Stevens), and now we have a first-time, young head coach in Will (Hardy),” Olynyk said, via Walden. “And I think it’s going to be great for us — everybody’s going to be pulling the rope in the same direction. And that’s how you move things.”

Timberwolves

Forward Kyle Anderson said he wanted to sign with the Timberwolves after respecting them as an opponent while playing for the Grizzlies last season. Memphis eliminated Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.

“Those guys in Minnesota really competed, one through 11, 12, those guys all played really hard,” Anderson said, via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “You could see the cohesiveness, they played hard for one another. So when it came down to this summer and which team I wanted to sign with, I think this was an easy call.”

• Guard Anthony Edwards believes he’s ready to take it up another level this season. He already offered the Wolves a three-headed hoops monster next to Karl-Anthony Towns and Gobert. “I feel like I’m in better shape, more than anything,” Edwards said, via Krawczynski. “That’s going to take everything to the next level.”

Grizzlies

• The Grizzlies are among the teams linked to available Suns forward Jae Crowder, who of course played with Memphis previously. Parker Fleming of SB Nation examines whether that would be a good idea.
• Meanwhile, SB Nation’s Parish Sharkey takes a look at how Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ziaire Williams can improve this season and help get the team to another level.