Jayson Tatum‘s injury will have a ripple effect on the rest of the league and it will send a seismic wave down the Celtics organization, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes. While Achilles injuries aren’t entirely uncommon in the NBA, it’s not typical that a player of Tatum’s caliber suffers an injury this catastrophic at this point in the league’s calendar year.
Unless the Celtics complete the 3-1 comeback against the Knicks, the NBA is looking at its seventh different champion in as many years. Reports were already circulating that Boston was looking to make some changes this offseason as the team continued to get more expensive. Now their superstar is out until likely, at earliest, late into next regular season.
There is somewhat of a precedent to follow in that Kevin Durant tore his Achilles in the 2019 Finals, but the Warriors were still able to build around Stephen Curry in his wake.
In a similar article, Kevin Pelton of ESPN explores what paths Boston could explore with Tatum likely sidelined all of next year. Making trades to trim salary and add depth seems likely, but it’s unclear who could be on the block. Jrue Holiday is still a valuable piece for a contender, so he could be an option if Boston opts for that route. While Jaylen Brown would be an appealing trade target for almost every team in the league, the Celtics will need to rely on him to stay competitive next year, Pelton writes.
We have more on Tatum’s injury and the shock wave it sent through the NBA:
- Outside of Holiday, the Celtics could also look to move one or both of Derrick White or Kristaps Porzingis, Jay King of The Athletic suggests. Al Horford will also be an unrestricted free agent, as will Luke Kornet, and bringing both back could be challenging given the Celtics’ financial position.
- Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck addressed Tatum’s injury this week, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (Twitter link). “Jayson has a warrior mentality like the rest of his teammates,” Grousbeck said. “He will work very hard to get back, and in the meantime the Celtics will fight hard for every game.“
- Brown and Horford spoke to Celtics players in a meeting prior to Game 5’s big win over the Knicks, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on a SportsCenter appearance (YouTube link). On Wednesday, the team got a message from Tatum while he was recovering from his surgery. According to Windhorst, Tatum told the team that he would be back and encouraged them to play hard in the wake of his injury.
Wait Kevin Durant to the Celtics?
He’s too much of a stop gap and too old to try and build around with Tatum in a year. You’d have to trade a lot of salary to get him and then they’d still be in cap purgatory. They should try to trade anything they can for a good expiring contract to get through next year and start over fresh under the cap when Tatum is back.
This is a solid view. I don’t like the disrespect they show JB like he’s totally expendable w/o Tatum. There’s no f**king way they are treating Derrick White in the off-season. I love Jrue but he’s gone and poor Kristaps, who I’m convinced as long Covid, is out too. You still have a really solid team with Brown, White, Pritchard, and new dirt cheap contracts for AL and Kornet. They can definitely trim the cap hit and still be competitive until Tatum is back. And then you see what shakes out with trades and what not. I have all the faith in the world and Brad.
No thanks.
NAH. Stay away from KD.
Sorry meant they are not trading White not treating. And all the faith in the world in Brad.
its time to break up the team. first the cost of the celtics is insane. only tatum and white are not to be traded. brown and whatever else for cooper flagg. then rebuild. flagg is a new england boy and is a celtic.
That’s a hilariously bad idea.
Fk no! 😆
time to break up the team. the cost is insane and the injury to tatum makes it perfect to rebuild. trade brown and others to the mavs for flagg who is a new england boy and is a celtic in his heart. let’s go.
I really doubt that Nico Harrison would trade the #1 pick or trade AD. He made a dumb trade, but I don’t think he’s stupid enough to risk being wrong again on something so important right after being spectacularly wrong on the Luka trade. So Flagg and AD will be in the front court in Dallas. The question is whose minutes will they take? I assume PJ Washington will be traded, along with one of Gafford or Lively.
Cooper already said in his press conference if Dallas drafts him he will default and play another year on college so Celtics have a chance to tank and draft him next year
No he did not
Here is what he said: “They got a lot of really good pieces,” he said, adding, “I think it’ll be a really cool opportunity.”
Are we talking about the same Cooper…
Why not? Durant is a tremendous athlete. Age? A number until not…
I would expect something could happen with the Thunder, they have too many picks, can’t use them all. Houston will call on guys. And then you’ve got SAS.
Jrue, KP, White, or even Brown could be had for the right price.
I can’t see Boston just folding it all up, but they need to turnover the roster with some cheaper talent.
Maybe Detroit or the Magic think they are close enough