The basketball world awaits the Boston Celtics’ subsequent transfer.
Right here’s hoping it doesn’t contain Jayson Tatum.
No, the Celtics aren’t about to commerce Tatum. Relying upon how issues go, possibly we are able to revisit {that a} yr from now.
Wait, what?
That’s proper. This figures to be an fascinating season for the Celtics, one through which far too many individuals have already written them off.
It’s fairly attainable they’ll turn into simply high quality even with Tatum prone to miss a lot of the yr following Achilles surgical procedure, Jrue Vacation having been traded, Kristaps Porzingis principally offered off and Al Horford with one foot out the door.
Heck, their funds are so dangerous, they couldn’t even retain Luke Kornet.
However Tatum is the important thing. All the pieces has revolved round him just about ever since he was plucked from Duke’s bottomless chest of five-star treasures in 2017.
It’s arduous to complain when Boston has 9 extra regular-season wins than another group over that span, and have performed 34 extra playoff video games.
That mentioned, it’s important to surprise: If the Celtics — with far and away extra top-end expertise than another group within the league lately — had shared the ball a little bit extra slightly than watch Tatum shoot them out of banner after banner below the intense lights, whether or not they’d be speaking one other dynasty slightly than the Thunder.
If nothing else, the upcoming season may show that those that imagine the group can be higher off with out Tatum aren’t simply jealous Knicks followers. However that is going to take time to kind out.
We caught a glimpse of what the 2025–26 Celtics may seem like within the two video games after Tatum was injured in Sport 4 of the Jap semifinals in opposition to New York.
For one evening, the Celtics seemed nice. Possibly higher than ever. A number of guys took it upon themselves to share within the ball distribution, the rebounding, the protection … slightly than be spectators as Tatum dribbled between his legs endlessly above the highest of the important thing, snatched uncontested rebounds as he guarded no one and wrestled the ball away from higher foul shooters as a result of he was entitled to shoot each technical foul.
In different phrases: They performed like a group.
It was Golden State turned Bay State.
Alas, it couldn’t be sustained. The Celtics had been embarrassed in Sport 6, dwelling all the way down to the expectations many had placed on them as quickly as The Franchise had been carted off.
Having skilled equal elements optimistic and adverse, we had been left to conclude … nothing.
Little doubt, the Celtics will scrap the Tatum Offense subsequent season and really have time to work out the kinks of a return to mainstream basketball. You’re conversant in it.
It includes a star participant (Jaylen Brown) who really makes clutch pictures. An amazing second possibility (Derrick White) who’s allowed to share the highlight. And — get this — precise complementary items, slightly than guys who stand on the perimeter and watch Tatum chuck up 3-pointers.
OK, cash talks within the NBA and having it tied up in taxes has led to a really quiet offseason in Beantown. If solely Tatum may very well be declared out for the season and his cash used on one other participant, which really may occur, however that’s taxable as nicely.
So wishful pondering goes poof.
We’re left with a actuality that doesn’t sound like a lot. However Anfernee Simons offers them a greater third scoring possibility than they’d earlier than; JD Davison is — get this — an actual level guard; Jordan Walsh (all protection) and Baylor Scheierman (all offense) are a pleasant tag group; and Georges Niang, if nothing else, figures to deal with Brown like he really exists.
And do not forget: Payton Pritchard will get to retain his similar award-winning position.
You don’t have to fret about when Porzingis is getting back from his newest harm, and … the Celtics have carried out a superb job of growing younger expertise (see Aaron Nesmith, Javonte Inexperienced and Guerschon Yabusele), so possibly it’s time to exit with the outdated (Vacation and Horford) and in with the brand new.
It would really work within the Jap Convention, the place the highest group (Cleveland) must be questioning itself, its new chief rival (New York) has opted for a enjoyable coach over a winner, and nobody else issues.
If Atlanta, for crying out loud, is given an opportunity, then the door stays large open for the Celtics to shock …
So long as Tatum doesn’t play. And even attempt to play.
The very last thing this rejuvenated squad wants is in-game texts from Tatum to the published crew, reminding them that that is his group and he’ll be again quickly to rescue it.
Fantasy as he’s recognized in some circles must observe within the unselfish Tyrese Haliburton course and take the total season off, giving the unshackled expertise an opportunity to develop a brand new identification and see what works finest.
You realize there’ll be day by day updates on social media on Tatum. They’re already on the market. Irritating, sure. However possibly not a foul factor in the long term (so long as it’s clear: no comeback this season).
As a result of if this new everybody-can-shoot-a-T method works, the Celtics is perhaps Jap favorites once more as early because the 2026–27 season.
Relying upon how a lot they may get for a contemporary and wholesome Tatum in a commerce subsequent summer season.
