Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics have one of the best young players in the entire NBA, but questions continue to arise regarding the leadership and superstar ability of a certain Jayson Tatum.
Along with his partner in crime, Jaylen Brown, the two-time All-Star is part of the young core around which the Celtics want to build. But, with the recurring argument around the NBA over whether the tandem of Tatum and Brown improves the players around them, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the team could move better from one of them. .
Why the Boston Celtics should trade Jayson Tatum for Jaylen Brown
With the ceiling Tatum possesses, the obvious choice would be Brown if the team were blown away by an offer they couldn’t refuse. But not so fast Celtics nation! What if a team made an offer for Tatum that would ultimately improve the team in the long run?
Now, it’s hard to want to let go of the talent of Jayson Tatum, but the team’s inconsistency throughout the 2021-22 NBA season starts with the players at the top and Tatum is that player.
Whether or not he’s ready for his fourth NBA season, the state of the Boston Celtics rests on his shoulders. He’s the foundation and the future of the team, but he’s also a flight risk if this team isn’t in contention or committed to winning a championship in the next two seasons.
Tatum isn’t expected to enter free agency until 2026, but the criticism leveled at him, including questions about his heart and leadership, could be the ingredients that drive him out of town.
It’s still a long way off, but what deals would make Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens pull the trigger to deal with Tatum? Here are three that would shock the NBA…and maybe the world.