Now that the Kyrie Irving trade is officially unofficial, Boston Celtics fans are running to the stores to replace the Isaiah Thomas jerseys they just burned. With all this chaos, what can we expect from the Celtics next year, with or without a highlight point guard?
The Boston Celtics have just about remodeled the team thanks to a combination of forethought of Danny Ainge and pure greatness from the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics decided to chase the Warriors, rather than starting fresh with a crop of young players. Boston is arguably one of top teams set up for the post-Warrior dominance era due to their balance of talent and youth. With all this in mind, the point guard situation is still extremely murky.
Some fans will argue Kyrie Irving fits the team better, while other claim that Isaiah Thomas was the heart of the team. Both are defensive liabilities, but Irving has the clear size advantage, which is much more attractive to fans than a 5’9 point guard. Some fans have taken more…enflamed stances on the matter, but for the sake of sanity, let’s take a look at what Celtics fans can expect elsewhere.
Total Hayward Submergence
Gordon Hayward is still the coveted signing of the offseason and fans will want results immediately. Coming off an All-Star season, no fan wants to see this season as “post-peak Hayward” or a regression from the 27-year-old.
With a team that requires more movement and pace, under his college coach, Hayward is going to be the focal point from the first game. Whether Thomas stays or Irving replaces him, Hayward is going to be the consistent point on both sides of the ball. If this team was the ’95 Bulls, Hayward is Scottie Pippen.
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While Pippen was a legend in his own right, Hayward needs to find a similar role. He needs to pick up the slack when needed on offense, facilitating as much as possible — all while maintaining a solid defensive rhythm among new teammates.
He will not be the only All-Star on the team, meaning fans will expect nothing short of superstar production. The expectations are set high for Hayward, but being an All-Star comes with certain responsibilities. You no longer get excuses, especially not in Boston.
While he may be young, his biggest source of improvement is going to be late-game scoring, where his new team is better-suited to adhere to that than his previous Jazz team. On multiple occasions, Hayward was given the ball and left out to dry with no off-ball movement. With a team more inclined to work the ball and find the open shot, he won’t be put is nearly as many “life or death” situations. While having a player that can get a shot off in each situation is nice, that simply is not Hayward’s style. He makes smart plays and relies on his team for support when he needs to.
Hayward may not be the only All-Star on the team and he might not even be the best player, but his usage is going to be very high while his production is bound to follow. The pace of the Celtics can bring out a more versatile Hayward that scores on a whim, or possibly a more passive Hayward that prefers to find open teammates. No matter which style he resorts to, Hayward is going to be a perfect supporting to piece to whoever lands primary ball-handling duties in Boston.
Jayson Tatum-mania
A little bit like Wrestlemania, but basketball. You know what what’s coming but you also know there’s a surprise. For those who don’t follow the WWE, Wrestlemania is the biggest event for the WWE Universe. It’s filled with pre-determined matches, but the outcome is never, ever, guaranteed. Curveballs, pushes and flips, not to mention pyrotechnics galore. Jayson Tatum may not be creating the same amount of buzz as Shinsuke Nakamura or Bobby Roode, but all three have the same future. It’s unwritten.
NBA Summer League was the ultimate teaser. Tatum looked like a young Kevin Durant that hit contested shot after shot after shot. While the shot choice was poor, the result was ideal. Tatum looked ready to start the season and actually produce for the Celtics. Assuming he will be a force in the league is out of line, but assuming he sees the most minutes on the Celtics bench is entirely possible. Even as an offensive liability, Jaylen Brown averaged around 17 minutes a game on a contending team. If Tatum averages less time his rookie year then Brown, I will be honestly shocked.
With the amount of talent they can put around Tatum, there is no reason he can’t get minutes and get his mistakes out of the way. When Brown was thrusted into the starting lineup to guard LeBron James earlier last season, his confidence improved drastically and Brown began playing like the highlight player he exhibited in college.
The game is not entirely mental, but Tatum is still a 19-year old kid playing in the NBA. He will need actual game time to adjust to the speed of the league. The sooner Tatum can get experience, especially in significant situations, the quicker his confidence from Summer League will translate.
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While the focus of the summer has shifted toward who will be the point guard for this team, do not let it overshadow the importance of the team’s most important investments, Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum. Hayward is lined up to be the current saving grace for this team, while Tatum needs to embrace his youth and leave it all on the table his rookie year. The sooner he can make his presence known, the better it will influence his future in Boston.