Report: Jayson Tatum ‘would not mind’ trade to Pelicans
The obvious centerpiece of a potential summertime package for Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis, the latest league gossip indicates that Jayson Tatum would not necessarily mind a move from Boston to New Orleans, per ESPN.
“It’s gossip, but the gossip is Jayson Tatum wouldn’t mind if he’s shipped to New Orleans and has a chance to be the face of the franchise somewhere,” said Tim MacMahon, the third piece of an ESPN roundtable of sorts with Brian Windhorst and Jackie MacMullan. “Because he’s not going to get that opportunity in Boston, at least not in the immediate future.”
On the surface, this makes all the sense in the world, as Tatum will always be second fiddle in Boston so long as Kyrie Irving is in the picture, and could actually be third depending on if and when Gordon Hayward returns to form and if the Celtics were able to add another All-Star caliber piece while keeping the 20-year-old Tatum on their roster.
Averaging 16.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game this season, a move to a rebuilder such as New Orleans would certainly allow Tatum to take the shots and develop as the offensive threat any player with his potential wants to be.
It would also allow him to build off the strides he (and several other) young C’s players believe they took last season on their 19-game playoff run without Irving and Hayward available.
“I was talking to somebody about the Celtics the other day and they said the worst thing that happened to the Celtics was their success last season. Because now you’ve got Tatum, [Jaylen] Brown, [Terry] Rozier — these young guys are thinking, ‘Dude, we went to Game 7 of the East Finals without you, Kyrie, without you, Hayward. We’re this level of player,'” said MacMahon. “This summer, they could be gone.
“They might up end in New Orleans [for Davis].”
A fallout that Tatum apparently would not mind.
