The Celtics will “most likely” offer Jayson Tatum a maximum contract extension whenever the offseason arrives, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (hat tip to Tom Westerholm of MassLive). Windhorst addressed the situation today on SportsCenter, saying Tatum is the young star the franchise plans to build around.
“If Jayson Tatum is the superstar that they envisioned when they began this whole rebuilding process when they traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for all of those draft picks hoping to land a player like this, we could see ‘Glory Days’ for the Celtics again,” Windhorst said. “But it’s very much up in the air, and I’m gonna tell ya, they’re gonna have to pay him like it because after this season ends, he is going to get most likely a max contract. They’re going to bet that he becomes that player.”
Westerholm notes that the best outcome for Tatum would be if the league agrees to a temporary freeze on the salary cap, which is at risk of declining significantly due to the lockdown. Tatum will be eligible for a new contract starting at 25% of the 2021/22 cap (or up to 30% of the cap if he meets certain benchmarks).
There’s more from Boston:
- After spending most of the past two months in Chicago, Enes Kanter is on a road trip back to Boston so he can be there when the team facility reopens Monday, writes Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. Kanter explained that he’s traveling by car instead of flying so he won’t have to quarantine for 14 days. “I need some kind of discipline in my life right now,” Kanter said of returning to basketball. “Because, like, right now, I’m waking up late and eating whatever. I work out whenever I want to work out. Once you are in Boston, I think my life is going to be a little bit more disciplined. And I’m going to be more focused because, when you’re not in Boston, your head is all over the world.”
- In an appearance earlier this week on FS1, Kanter raved about how hard his teammates have worked to stay in shape during the hiatus, relays Chris Cotillo of MassLive. “We have these virtual workouts with the Celtics,” Kanter said. “We get on the call with the strength coach and literally just do push-ups and sit-ups. I see some of the players doing workouts with suitcases because they don’t have the tools to work out. I’m like, that is going to bring us a championship, that’s that championship mentality.”
- Center Daniel Theis is one of few Celtics who has experience playing games in empty arenas, writes Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston. Appearing on the network’s “Celtics at Home” series, Theis recalled his days in Germany when nobody would show up for preseason contests. “You hear every voice, every word, every step,” he said. “It’s annoying.”
Celtics rank 9th in Championship chance by Vegas this year
Center spot is a question mark
In the future
How can they rank ahead of
Clippers
Lakers
Warriors
Nets
Bucks
Nets… lol
Nets soooo the popular choice ans they wont make a conference championship the next five years.
Center spot is watered down in the league. As long as you have 4 playmakers you really dont need an elite center.
Who says they have to “rank” ahead of those teams in the first place?
Why is everyone so obsessed with ranking everything today?
Just turn on the darn Tele and enjoy, a truly lost art today
What they need is a bench they get nothing from the guys they have
Celtics will always be a top 4 team in the East. Nothing looks likely to change with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown set to carry the team for the next few years. They also have 3/4 first round picks this year to add to their team.
I think they should look to somehow trade for Myles Turner who would be a great third piece in the future but a win now piece. He’s an elite rim protector who can rebound and hit 3 pointers.
Turner can block some shots, chucks down some threes… but rebounding is one of his let downs, really. I mean he would be ok as a role player, but I must say I am very disappointed with his career so far.
I agree. I believe theis is enough and probably get baynes back. The center spot should be the last focus on a championship contender.
Turner was blocks leader last year and ever since his rookie season has always been top 10 in blocks. He’s elite at that.
As for his 3’s he’s a career 36% shooter which in increasing, last year he hit 39%.
That’s just as good as Kevin Loves shooting as he’s regarded as one of the best shooting bigs of the past decade or so.
Lastly I do agree his rebounding numbers aren’t great and his career has been abit of a let down but he is still 24 and can continue to improve. He averages about 7 rebounds per game but on a team like the Celtics that number would be fine with Theis Tatum and Brown all good rebounders.
I mean if you could do a sign and trade with Hayward who is born and raised in Indy then it would be a good move. Tatum gets to cement himself at SF, Theis moves to PF which suits him better and Turner joins to make them more of a playoff threat and makes them better in the long term.