Former NBA Star Cautions Celtics Against Splitting Up Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown

Basketball Hall of Famer is adamant if their partnership continues, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will lead the Celtics to a championship.

The Celtics are at a fork in the road and could potentially make a franchise-altering choice.

This author's outlined the belief that seeing what Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown can accomplish together in their primes seems like Boston's best path forward.

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While not the primary motivator, one reason is, if in two years, when the new collective bargaining agreement will force the organization to make difficult decisions about who it can and can't keep, if the Celtics are confident the duo has reached their ceiling or prefers a potential pivot, Brown will be 28 with plenty of suitors.

But whether Boston should offer the Georgia native a five-year, $295 million veteran supermax the summer before signing Tatum to a $318 million extension is a choice people have differing opinions on.

While some, including Shaquille O'Neal, believe it's best to break up the dynamic wing tandem, others are more optimistic about what Tatum and Brown can accomplish together if their partnership continues.

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On SHOWTIME'S "WHAT's BURNING," Tracy McGrady made clear he's in the latter camp.

"I don't understand, why would you get rid of two guys that have played for an NBA championship (and) went to four Eastern Conference Finals," the Basketball Hall of Famer said. "At some point, these guys are going to raise a banner. LeBron (James) is on his way out. Steph (Curry) is getting older. (Kevin Durant) and those guys are getting older. These guys are 25 and 26 years old. You're not going to find a better duo than these two."

An adamant McGrady later expressed, "You ride it out," adding, "They're going to hang banners. ... I think they need to improve around them. But you keep that core."

McGrady is a part of one of the great "What Ifs?" in NBA history, leaving the Raptors and Vince Carter to become the face of the Orlando Magic. While the former's departure made it easier for him to accomplish more individually, and Tim Duncan nearly joined McGrady and Grant Hill in Orlando, likely leading to at least one Larry O'Brien Trophy, it's interesting to hear someone who was in a situation comparable to Brown's advise the Celtics to do what's necessary for this partnership to continue.

Further Reading

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