The Detroit Pistons announced on Thursday that their center/power forward Kelly Olynyk is set to miss at least six weeks of action. Olynyk is dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his knee.
Olynyk got hurt in the fourth quarter of a 112-104 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Up to that point, the 30-year-old Canadian had a great game that saw him contribute 13 points, six rebounds, and one assist.
According to the Pistons’ official statement, Olynyk will be re-evaluated in six weeks after which the team will provide an update on his return to action.
Detroit made a significant investment in Kelly Olynyk during the offseason, signing him to a three-year, $37 million contract. So far, the jury is still out on Olynyk as a member of the Pistons, especially since he was used mostly as a backup center. In 10 games he played so far in 2021-22, he contributed 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on average.
In Olynyk’s absence, the Pistons will likely give rookie Luka Garza a more prominent role. Garza, who was the team’s late second-round selection in this year’s draft, saw limited time on the floor so far and only averaged 7.8 minutes in five games he played. He had 3.2 points and 1.2 rebounds on average per contest.
