Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics
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Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics
When Celtics star Jayson Tatum conceded this week that he was weighing not coming back to the team here in the 2025-26 season, despite a wave of speculation fueled by his own quotes and social-media videos, as well as the impression left by stars, coaches and front-officer personnel who have worked with him during his rehab, it left the current Boston team in limbo.
With a record of 29-18 and sitting at No. 2 in the East thanks to solid role-player performance and remarkable steps up by stars Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard, the Celtics would be a fringe contender in the East even as they stand. But with chatter suggesting that Tatum could be back in March, or April at the latest, Boston much be taken more seriously–dropping Tatum onto an overachieving Celtics roster potentially creates an Eastern Conference nightmare team.
That might have affected how Boston would approach the trade deadline next week. Except that, in a twist, several sources say it won’t.
Exec: Celtics Have Been Consistent on NBA Trade Deadline
Here’s one executive talking about the Celtics’ deadline approach: “They’re over the tax, they would like to get under it. They can probably trade Anfernee Simons and picks, but not much more. And they want a big guy who is not overpriced and has a contract for a few years.
“The thing about the Celtics is, that is where they were in October. That’s what they’ve been telling everyone. And no matter what happens with Tatum, it’s been the same. They have the same exact objectives whether Tatum plays or not.”
That is important to remember with a week to go to the deadline. The Celtics have always been hopeful that Tatum would return, and they’ve encouraged his aggressive attempt at a 2025-26 return. But they’ve also been realistic. They have not counted on a Tatum comeback, and they set out goals at the deadline that were always aimed to trying to achieve financial flexibility (getting under the tax line, which requires shedding about $12 million in salary) going forward while hopefully adding a long-term center.
Jayson Tatum: ‘How Does That Work?’
Thus, a report from Michael Scotto of HoopsHype stating that the Celtics inquired about Ivica Zubac in December still holds water today–it’s unlikely, but the Celtics would still love to make a deal for Zubac and hopefully duck the tax in doing so.
All big guys the Celtics eye on the trade market will have to be cost-effective. But they’re still looking, with or without Tatum. And Tatum expressed some doubt not only about whether he should come back, but about whether it’s good for the team.
“They have an identity this year — or things that they’ve felt that has clicked for them and it’s been successful, right?” Tatum told “The Pivot” podcast. “Second team in the East up to this point. So there is a thought in my head of like, how does that work?
“How does that look with me integrating myself off an injury, and 50, 60 games into a season? Obviously, could be some challenges and it is a thought like, damn, do I come back? Or should I wait? It’s something that I honestly, recently, in the last like two weeks or so kind of just kind of contemplate every single day.”