Jayson Tatum’s injury, and the early playoff out, leaves the Boston Celtics in a strange position. They are too good (as currently constructed) to tank, but they’re not impressive enough without their best player to actually contend.
That is, in some ways, a frightening thought.
Boston has been firmly in contender status for quite some time, and with Tatum behind the wheel, they’ve always got a shot. Even with a more aggressive recovery timeline, their franchise player won’t start on-court work until at least the All-Star break. The Celtics aren’t going to rush him back either.
The bright side to all of this is despite the injury, this doesn’t have to be a lost season. Instead, the uncertainty might actually be a good thing.
The Celtics were destined for change regardless of the season’s conclusion. It’s clear that the process of ducking the 2nd apron would be a priority, and it’ll start this summer. What I find encouraging is that the range of possibilities has grown significantly.
They can opt for a drastic reset next year, or be more strategic and methodical in planning for the following season.
Boston can be sellers in the offseason — or at the deadline — and enter the draft lottery sweepstakes. It would be nearly impossible to self-destruct to the level of the NBA’s bottom feeders, but records of 39-43 and 34-48 landed the Mavericks and Spurs the number 1 and 2 picks this year. I don’t encourage rigging the draft, but hometown prodigy AJ Dybantsa from Brockton, MA is a projected top-3 pick. I’d be happy to look the other way this time.
Even without lottery luck, having a pick anywhere in the top 14 is useful. Whether it’s to add cost controlled young talent, or offer as a trade chip to retool, the value is there.
Realistically, it’s hard to imagine the Celtics new ownership giving management a green light to tank. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White is not the nucleus of a losing basketball team, and the right supplementary moves could be enough for a 3-6 seed in the current Eastern Conference.
Either way, Brad Stevens end of year presser reinforced that the end goal must remain the same. “How do we get ourselves in the mix to compete for championships best?,” Stevens said.
Stevens did not commit to a quick timeframe for this, focusing instead on the best course of action. In most scenarios, that equates to building a roster and infrastructure that is ready to go upon Tatum’s return.
A determination needs to be made on whether or not that can be accomplished in one offseason. Fortunately, having one of the brightest decision-makers in basketball is extremely reassuring at this crossroads.
There are enough resources at Stevens’ disposal to reset the payroll while constructing a team that maximizes Tatum’s versatility. While Kristaps Porzingis’ and Jrue Holiday’s contracts are the most obvious options to move, Boston should be open for business if the right deal emerges.
The prospect of a big overhaul isn’t unfamiliar, considering Stevens shipped out two fan favorites in Marcus Smart and Robert Williams to build a championship roster. The changes may not be as extreme, but I wouldn’t discount anything.
Even if that unpredictability feels disheartening, the franchise’s objective will always be aligned: bringing another championship to Boston is the priority, regardless of what it takes to get there.
No matter how different this group looks next year, the ‘24 title makes everything a lot easier to accept.
