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Jayson Tatum and Danny Ainge react to big extension on Twitter

Matt Dolloff Matt Dolloff November 23rd, 2020
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates a three point shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 19, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com

The Celtics have officially taken the plunge with Jayson Tatum. Danny Ainge has a five-year plan to (hopefully) land the C’s an 18th championship banner before Tatum reaches free agency again, because at that point all bets are off.

But for now, all is well between the Celtics, their president of basketball ops, and their franchise stud. Despite Ainge’s egregious missteps in his handling of Gordon Hayward’s departure, locking up Tatum for the next several years remained the absolute No. 1 most important priority for the organization.

So now that it’s been accomplished, and Tatum has signed for five years and up to $195 million, Tatum had nothing left to do but …

Ainge, who is perhaps even more religious than Tatum as a devout Mormon, quoted Matthew 5:16 in shouting out Tatum’s tweet: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Next step for Tatum is to take the necessary leaps to become one of the very best players in the NBA, a franchise anchor whose mere presence makes you a championship contender. And for Ainge, the key is to convince free agents to flock to Boston so they can play with Tatum the way so many have done with LeBron James and other superstars.

Ainge has had a subpar run with recent veteran additions (Hayward, Al Horford, Kyrie Irving) in terms of staying power in Boston. But perhaps that will change if Tatum alone promises prosperity for ring-chasers.

MORE: Jayson Tatum signs five-year max extension with Celtics

But for now, it’s a good day to be a Celtics fan, despite the Hayward debacle. The last thing you wanted to worry about was the possibility of losing Tatum too early.

Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff or send him a nasty email at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.

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