On Monday night, the Boston Celtics made a Jayson Tatum announcement, which seemed like a major deal. The team assigned the veteran forward to the G League squad in Maine, which typically signals that a player is working their way back.
However, Tatum made something clear on Tuesday to the media: his situation isn't like everybody else's.
"It doesn't mean I'm coming back or I'm not," the star forward told reporters.
A few months ago, Tatum seemed sure he would return from his Achilles injury this season and help the Celtics make a playoff push if they were close enough. Not only are the Celtics close-they are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
While that scenario might leave Tatum even more motivated to get back this season, there might be a hint of hesitancy due to the fact that the team has been thriving in his absence. There are pros and cons to both scenarios, and neither one is guaranteed to happen at this time.
Boston is 34-19, placing third in the Eastern Conference. They are going to enter the All-Star break as a top-three team, along with the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons.
There's no telling when Tatum could return this year. His timeline will ultimately depend on how his body responds to the recovery in the stages.
Plus, conditioning and other factors play into the return stage. If it's too late in the year, it might be in Tatum's best interest to sit out for the playoffs. But if he has enough time to get in the lineup and work his way back with a system that thrived with a different look, then the Celtics would certainly welcome it.
Throughout his eight-year career, Tatum has been an All-Star-caliber player more often than not. Last season, he appeared in 72 games, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. Before going down with a season-ending injury in the playoffs, Tatum accounted for 28.1 points per game, while shooting 37 percent from three. He produced a double-double nightly with 11.5 rebounds per game.
Tatum and the Celtics still have time to finalize their plan. While Monday's move was a step in the right direction, it shouldn't be made out to be a big deal, based on Tatum's public comments.
Newsweek