If the Celtics have to choose between Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk, who should they keep?

This is a great question, and was actually our main topic at last Friday's local Celtics breakfast meeting.

I think that we probably had most every side of this comparison discussed over and over, and finally agreed that the answer can really only be answered after knowing which other players will make up the rest of the center/power forward grouping.  We thought that a big rebounding center on the roster makes Olynyk more valuable while a smaller center makes Sullenger look more enticing, etc.

Sullenger and Olynyk bring so many different skills to the table that they are very difficult to compare.  They also have some 'end-result' similarities: neither is very good on defense and also that neither should spend very much time playing center against a good team or a team with a good, offensive minded center.

Riding the fence somewhat, I could see both guys sharing the power forward position next year or even see both guys being traded this summer.
If both or either one are traded, I would very much like to see Brandon Bass re-signed.

As usual in these polls, I feel the answer categories aren't sufficiently exhaustive.  I believe there should be an "either" category because the answer to the question depends on the circumstances.  And, at this point of time, if anyone thinks (s)he can predict what the circumstances will be if and when Danny might choose to include either Sully or Kelly in a trade, that's just not factual.  So I voted "neither" not because it's the way I feel but because it was the most neutral option.

I could also see a "both" option as potentially appropriate in a given situation.  If they were to sign (and I know it's a long shot) Lemarcus Aldrich, I'd be happy to have an Aldrich/Bass tandem at PF while using both Sully AND Kelly as trading chips (though not necessarily in the same deal).

I think of Sully and Kelly as the embodiments of Jack Sprat and his wife.  Both have vulnerabilities, and the presence of both does NOT compensate for the vulnerabilities of each.  In most cases, well-rounded, versatile players represent an ideal situation. Quantity doesn't trump quality.

Sam

Agree with Sam. They're both young players with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Getting rid of one, the other, or both totally depends on who is available to replace them as a free agent, or what you could get for one of them in a trade.

In an ideal world, with a good return on the one traded, I'd probably keep Sully as I think he has a higher ceiling.

-V

I voted neither and my assumption was the question relates to which one to keep and the one kept would be a starter. I doubt either will ever be good enough to start on a team that is a contender to win it all. Both could be good enough to be a bench/role player on such a team.

I'm with BobC33.  

Individually they are incomplete and will never be whole unless each makes a dramatic transformation.

KO is a plodder and at times not quite athletic, but has a nice shot from 3 point land and is 7'. Not aggressive enough on the boards.

Sully has great hands down low but plays below the rim.  Is tough for his size down low but over matched with players taller.  Cannot run the floor with speed for a big.

6 of 1 ...........half a dozen of the other....you still wind up with an incomplete player.

If you could combine the 2 into 1 player....it then makes sense.

112288

I'll take KO any day. All the grief he gets about his rebounding and interior defense would be greatly alleviated if we had either a PF or C who could do those things.

The other biggest criticism Kelly receives is not dominating offensively like we all know he can.

Why not just get the pitchforks and noose and be done with it. A lot of fans have hated KO with a seething passion since he was drafted. Even when they finally admit that he has the skills and size and iq to dominate as a scorer, they claim his inability to do so yet is reason enough to ship him out on the first train, or hang him from the nearest tree.

Oh, and he's not selfish enough. Simply unacceptable in a second year player.

Sure, he's 7 feet tall with point guard skills, and shoots like shooting guard, but he's somehow low potential because he hasn't dominated yet and it's already been two years!

Give me the fat short unathletic wife beater with the bad attitude and entitlement problem. He's got potential out the wazoo, if he can just avoid not gaining 20 lbs in the middle of the season.

On a more serious, more diplomatic note, I think KO may already be a 6th man of the year candidate center, even if he never ends up winning the award.

I think he can be a good starting PF or C if he's paired with a defense and rebounding stud at the other frontcourt position, but we all know that 6th man of the year types can have a bigger impact than a lot of starters.

Sully can be a solid starting PF and a solid backup center, but I don't think he has near the potential that KO does once KO stops overthinking and stops being selfless to a fault. You can't even really blame him for liking to pass so much and get other guys involved. Our offense is ridiculously efficient whenever KO is in the game, and that's without him even shooting much. He's a great passer for a 7 footer, and takes pride in it. And after Danny called KO a complimentary player on draft night, it's no wonder that KO focused on best fulfilling that expected role.

It won't be long before KO develops more of a scoring mentality, though he'll always be a team first player.

I fully expect a(nother) 6th man of the year caliber season from KO, unless the Celtics acquire a defensive big man and KO somehow earns the starting spot next to him. Given that KO has thrived in his role off the bench, like IT4, Stevens may be slow to give KO the starting nod over Zeller or Sully, and that's okay.

I think we'll see a lot more performances like this from KO next season. All he needed was a Shav to the face. It's all about mentality:

rabone,

You make some fair points in wanting KO. I think he made some improvements this year, however he needs to continue to improve to another level this year to be a keeper.

If we have a trade that brought a more complete player....do it.

112288

Kelly Olynyk stats by minutes played:
G GS MP FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA ORB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS FG% 3P% FT% TS% USG% ORtg DRtg +/- MP PTS TRB AST

Minutes 40+ 1 0 41 6 12 1 3 6 6 7 11 3 4 1 1 6 19 .500 .333 1.000 .649 16.5 147 109 +19.5 41.4 19.0 11.0 3.0

30-39 7 4 225 50 78 13 27 16 22 16 53 11 8 8 14 24 129 .641 .481 .727 .736 19.9 129 106 +11.6 32.1 18.4 7.6 1.6

20-29 31 6 758 142 296 36 98 52 79 39 154 63 26 24 52 104 372 .480 .367 .658 .562 22.4 103 105 +3.5 24.4 12.0 5.0 2.0

10-19 24 3 392 53 139 11 47 19 29 29 84 31 26 6 31 77 136 .381 .234 .655 .448 20.5 87 99 +2.9 16.3 5.7 3.5 1.3

0-9 1 0 7 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .000 19.9 38 106 +2.7 7.2 0.0 1.0 1.0