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Celtics exercise Jayson Tatum’s fourth-year option

The Celtics have exercised Jayson Tatum’s fourth-year option for $9.9 million.

Dec 10, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after a three point basket during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 10, 2018; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) reacts after a three point basket during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

In completely expected news, the Celtics have officially exercised the $9.9 million fourth-year team option on forward Jayson Tatum, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Drafted with the No. 3 overall pick in 2017, the 21-year-old Tatum is coming off a sophomore season that came with a slight step back from the strides Tatum made in the 2018 NBA Playoffs, as Tatum struggled to find his game in a crowded Boston roster construct and experienced a six-percent drop in his three-point efficiency from his rookie season.

Despite those struggles to find his game and emerge as a star, Tatum still set a new career-high across the board, though, with 15.7 points, 2.1 assists, and six rebounds per game in 2018-19.

As noted by Charania, this will be a hugely important year for the 6-foot-8 wing, as the Celtics surely want him to emerge as a foundational piece of their franchise alongside new free agent addition Kemba Walker and fellow lottery pick Jaylen Brown.

With Tatum's fourth-year exercised, Tatum is now eligible to sign an extension with Boston next summer.

Ty Anderson is 98.5 The Sports Hub’s friendly neighborhood straight-edge kid. Ty has been covering the Bruins (and other Boston teams) since 2010, has been a member of the PHWA since 2013, and went left to right across your radio dial and joined The Sports Hub in 2018. Ty also writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to the Boston Celtics and Boston Red Sox.