Ainge: Celtics Maintain Cap Flexibility By Not Extending Kelly Olynyk
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Celtics got a big win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night, but it came at a cost.
Forward Jae Crowder is now sidelined with a sprained ankle after landing awkwardly on the foot of Bulls guard Rajon Rondo's during the second quarter. Celtics president of baskteball ops. Danny Ainge joined Toucher & Rich on Thursday, and said it's difficult to determine how long Crowder will be out, but is guessing it will be about a week.
"It is an ankle sprain, so Jae will be here in the facility within the next 20-30 minutes to get treatment, probably two or three times a day trying to get back as quick as he can," said Ainge. "It's always tough to know how long he'll be out. It was swelling pretty good, so it'll probably, at least, be a week."
As for Al Horford, who missed Wednesday's game with a concussion he suffered in Monday's practice, Ainge said the big man will have to pass a series of tests and then be symptom-free for 24 hours before he can return to the floor.
Kelly Olynyk has yet to play this season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, but Ainge is hopeful the big man will be back around November 15 (six months from his surgery).
"He's been ahead of progress. His shoulders are stronger than they were before surgery. We're just making sure he's 100 percent and not just getting him back out there when he can play," said Ainge. "He's been diligent in his training; it's a long season and we don't want to risk any injuries. You see all these guys who come back after surgeries and have to go back in for another; we're doing all we can to prevent that."
Olynyk did not receive a contract extension from Boston before Monday's deadline, and will become a restricted free agent when the season ends. Ainge said the C's did not extend Olynyk in order to maintain their salary cap flexibility this summer, when some big-name free agents will hit the open market.
"The biggest reason is we have a lot of flexibility next summer. We have max contract cap space available and if we extended Kelly for the numbers he wanted, or even a fair contract, we would dig into that cap space. So we still have the ability to match [his contract offers], and he'll have a cap hold at a much less number than a contract extension. We wanted to maintain our flexibility."
Ainge also touched on the possibility of the Celtics retiring Ray Allen's number, and the Chicago Cubs' dramatic World Series win on Wednesday night. Listen to the full interview below: