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VANCOUVER -- Kelly Olynyk isnt upset that he wasnt invited to the NBA draft in New York. Denis Malgin Jersey . The Canadian college basketball star watched the proceedings on TV with 30-40 friends and family at his Kamloops, B.C., home as he was drafted 13th overall by the Dallas Mavericks and immediately traded -- as part of a pre-arranged deal -- to the Boston Celtics. "I was definitely thinking about going," Olynyk, 22, said Friday, a day after the festivities. "The NBA invites about 15 people, and I didnt end up getting invited. So I didnt end up going. But I think it worked out better that way. "It was really fun to spend it here, back in Kamloops, with friends and family and people who have supported me my whole life. It was really nice, and real special, to be able to enjoy that and see how overjoyed people were for me and how proud and happy they were for me." Olynyk added: "Its special. Being a little kid, its a dream. Its every kids dream after touching a basketball. Its another door thats opened, another journey in your life." The seven-foot forward is looking forward to joining the storied Celtics as they go through significant transition with Kevin Garnett and other stars likely to be traded. Coach Doc Rivers has already moved to the Los Angeles Clippers. "Itll be different," said Olynyk. "The franchise, I wouldnt say its rebuilding, but its definitely remodelling. Itll be interesting to see how everything pans out. "Hopefully, it creates an opportunity for me. I just have to go in there and make the most of my opportunity." Olynyks selection in the draft came after he made the difficult decision to red-shirt in his third year of collegiate eligibility with the Gonzaga Bulldogs. In most cases, first-year players red-shirt to prepare for the college game. But, after receiving limited playing time as a sophomore, he sat out a season to develop physically while also working on his skills. That time spent honing his abilities helped Olynyk improve his game greatly and he became Gonzagas team leader after another Canadian, Robert Sacre of North Vancouver, B.C., had moved on to the NBAs Los Angeles Lakers. "It was tough because, as a player, you always want to play," said Olynyk. "And its tough sometimes just watching (games), because youre not able to be out there helping your team. ... It was definitely really good for me learning a new step and really good for my development. "It allowed me to really work on my body and work on my game and really excel and take those things to the next level. I think it was vital in my development and my success this year. I definitely developed more of an inside game, which is huge. I didnt have a very versatile inside game." Olynyk averaged 17.8 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 63 per cent from the field as Gonzaga earned the No. 1 NCAA ranking late in the season, marking the first time the small Spokane, Wash., university had achieved the mark. He was also thrilled to be part of an NBA draft where University of Nevada-Las Vegas freshman Anthony Bennett, a Brampton, Ont., native, became the first Canadian to be selected No. 1 overall. The Cleveland Cavaliers surprise choice of Bennett came a year before Thornhill, Ont., native Andrew Wigginss anticipated first overall selection. "Its huge," Olynyk said of Bennetts selection. "Its an unbelievable accomplishment for Canada and Canadian basketball, especially with it never being done before. I cant be happier for him. "Hopefully, I get a chance to play with him in the national team or something along those lines. Hopefully, we can repeat it next year with Wiggins. ... I think (basketball in) Canada is still on the rise. Theres a lot of younger kids coming up who have a lot of potential and could (have) the same opportunity." Olynyk, who was born in Toronto, got weaned on hoops in the 1990s while his father Ken coached the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and Canadian junior mens national team while also serving as a visiting coach with the NBAs Raptors for a season. The family moved to Kamloops when Kelly was 12. He hopes to help Canada qualify this summer for next years world championships and then advance to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. "If I have an opportunity to play with the national team, Id love to," he said. Vincent Trocheck Jersey .ca MLB Power Rankings, the third consecutive week that the As have held top spot and the third straight week that they have been one ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays. James Reimer Jersey . Simona Halep of Romania claimed the fifth title of her career by beating Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (1), 6-2 in the womens final. After trading sets, Gasquet trailed 4-3 in the decider but broke back to 4-4 in a game that went to seven deuces with Kukushkin constantly failing on his forehand shots.PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles cleaned out their lockers, packed their bags and headed home after becoming only the third team since 1990 to miss the playoffs following a 9-3 start.While 12 NFL teams get set for a run at the Super Bowl, the Eagles (10-6) are among those preparing for a long off-season. It was a disappointing finish for a team that expected to contend after winning the NFC East title in Kellys first season.So, now what?Chip Kelly isnt going anywhere and he plans to retain his coaches. Nick Foles isnt guaranteed the starting job at quarterback. LeSean McCoy could be trade bait. Jeremy Maclin will become a free agent.And the defence needs work. Plenty of it.Our goal is to win this thing and to do that, you have to look at everything, no matter what it is, Kelly said. You dont know what presents itself, so you have to take a look at everything and say, Hey, what do we think? When the chance or an opportunity comes, you have no idea what youre going to get, but (you say), Can this help make us a better organization? We have to make decisions based on that.Heres some things to look for in Philadelphias offseason:FRANCHISE QUARTERBACK: Neither Kelly nor owner Jeffrey Lurie gave Foles a strong endorsement for 2015. Foles regressed statistically after his breakout year in 2013. He was turnover-prone, but led the Eagles to a 5-2 record in games he started and finished. Mark Sanchez revived his career in Philadelphia, set a franchise-record with a 64.1 completion rate, but also made too many turnovers. Foles has one year left on his rookie contract, so should be back. Sanchez will be a free agent who should get offers to compete for a starting job somewhere.I expect to be the quarterback, Foles said.FREE AGENCY: Re-signing Maclin after his best season one year removed from ACL surgery is a priority. Cornerback Bradley Fletcher, safety Nate Allen, linebackers Brandon Graham and Casey Matthews and wide receiver Brad Smith also will be unrestricted free agents. Defensive end Cedric Thornton and running back Chris Polk will be restricted. Fletcher struggled and ended the season benched. He isnt expeected to return. Ian McCoshen Jersey. Everyone else is in the mix.CAP SPACE: The Eagles will carry over nearly $16 million in cap space from last year so theyll have room to pursue free agents, keep players they want and extend a few contracts. McCoy, who is heading to his third Pro Bowl, counts for almost $12 million on the cap in 2015. Kelly wants him back, but it wouldnt be a surprise if he was asked to restructure his deal. Linebacker Trent Coles cap number is $11.6 million, so the 32-year-old former Pro Bowler will have to take a pay cut to stay here. Same for cornerback Cary Williams, who counts for $8.2 million against the cap. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans ($6.9 million) is coming off surgery for an Achilles, but Kelly made it clear hes important to the defence and the team.KELLY VS. ROSEMAN: Kellys one-word response good when asked about his working relationship with GM Howie Roseman suggested perhaps theres friction between the two men. Kelly praised Roseman for his work on contracts and the salary cap, but also made it clear he has final say on roster decisions and personnel. Roseman, however, takes pride in making football decisions and his 2012 draft suggests he knows what hes doing. Kelly lauded Tom Gamble, the vice-president of player personnel as a heck of a football guy and said hed support him if he got the opportunity to be a GM for another team. Stay tuned.GETTING DEFENSIVE: The front seven made progress in the second year under defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis. But the secondary allowed more big plays than any in the league and needs revamping. The Eagles could change three-fourths of the starting unit, bringing back only safety Malcolm Jenkins. Davis job is safe, even though he came under scrutiny for allowing Fletcher to cover top receivers such as Dez Bryant and DeSean Jackson one-on-one with the season on the line.I thought our transition from coming in here and playing a Wide-9, 4-3 defence to a 3-4 defence over last two years, I think Billy has done a really good job, Kelly said.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org___Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_RobMaaddi ;Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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Activity: May 25 '20