Jayson Tatum’s Potential Return Comes With Hurdles, Says Former Celtics Champion

May 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) shoots the ball in the second half during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Boston Celtics' entire franchise trajectory was permanently altered when six-time All-Star power forward Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during the second round of the playoffs this spring.

Now, as the 6-foot-8 Duke product works his way back to health, the team around him is changing.

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Boston president Brad Stevens, who had transitioned to his front office role in 2021 after spending Tatum's first few seasons in the league as his head coach, set about reconfiguring his roster when Tatum went down. He'll likely sit out the entire 2025-26 season recovering from the ailment.

Boston's Changing Roster

Stevens traded away starters Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, and let reserve center Luke Kornet depart in free agency. Another free agent big man, Al Horford, seems likely to leave for the Golden State Warriors whenever the club figures out Jonathan Kuminga's next contract. For now, Boston has tendered Horford a veteran's minimum offer to return.

Stevens also waived point guard Jon Davison and flipped forward Georges Niang (acquired in the Porzingis deal) and two second-rounders for a two-way player. Boston is now below the NBA's brutal second luxury tax apron, and pretty close to the first, with plenty of contracts it could still look to move.

The Celtics also signed centers Chris Boucher and Luka Garza and forward Josh Minott. Score-first guard Anfernee Simons, currently on an expiring deal, was the return haul for Holiday.

During a new episode of their "Celtics Talk" podcast, former 2008 champion forward Brian Scalabrine explained to co-host Drew Carter why Tatum's return could be fairly bumpy.

"There's a reason (the NBA season) is 82 games," Scalabrine told Carter. "Just watch a playoff game and watch a preseason game: There's so many levels in between. Getting thrown back into the middle of a race where you're trying to get out of the play-in (tournament) and you're playing these meaningful, high-level games, that is not ideal -- not (just) for your Achilles, but for your body. There needs to be some build-up."

In 72 healthy regular season games for Boston last year, the 27-year-old averaged 26.8 points on .452/.343/.814 shooting splits, 8.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.5 blocks a night.

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During his eight healthy playoff bouts last season, Tatum averaged 28.1 points while shooting .423/.372/.889, 11.5 boards, 5.4 dimes, 2.1 swipes and 0.8 rejections a night.

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