There apparently was a Plan C for the Miami Heat, after all, one that resulted directly from the lost opportunity with Gordon Hayward in NBA free agency.
Forward Kelly Olynyk, a physical stretch four who has had a history of rugged play against the Heat, has reached agreement on a four-year free-agent contract with the Heat.
ESPN reported that the 26-year-old power forward has agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal.
The Celtics had to renounce their right-of-first-refusal to Olynyk, who had been a restricted free agent at the start of free agency, in order to clear the needed salary-cap space to add Hayward. The Heat, Celtics and Utah Jazz were the three finalists for Hayward.
The Heat, according to a source close to the process, continue to work toward the return of forward James Johnson.
With the addition of Olynyk and the four-year, $52 million agreement with guard Dion Waiters, the Heat would need to clear additional cap space to retain 3-point specialist Wayne Ellington, who has a Friday deadline to guarantee his $6.3 million 2017-18 Heat salary.
ESPN reported Thursday that the Heat were working with the Dallas Mavericks in such a space-saving bid, possibly for the $6 million contract of power forward Josh McRoberts.
The Heat still have options to bring back power forwards Luke Babbitt and Udonis Haslem, although it now appears that center Willie Reed will be lost in free agency.
