Contrary to reports elsewhere, the Celtics will not be allowing Kelly Olynyk to become an unrestricted free agent as the negotiating period opens at midnight this evening.
The Herald has learned the Celts will meet today’s deadline and present the 7-footer with his qualifying offer, thus making him a restricted free agent and retaining the right of first refusal for the club should another team sign him to an offer sheet.
But this doesn’t mean Olynyk will definitely be back in green for a fifth season. In fact, if the Celtics achieve their goal of getting free agent Gordon Hayward to agree to sign here, they will almost certainly need to get Olynyk off their books to clear part of the salary cap space they will need.