If an offseason trade were to send Anthony Davis to the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum reportedly wouldn’t mind heading to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange.
On a podcast with Jackie MacMullan and Tim MacMahon, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst noted that the “gossip” suggests that Tatum would like to be a franchise guy somewhere and that New Orleans might be that place.
“It’s gossip, but the gossip is Jayson Tatum wouldn’t mind if he’s shipped to New Orleans and has a chance to be the face of the franchise somewhere,” Windhorst said. “Because he’s not going to get that opportunity in Boston, at least not in the immediate future.”
The opportunity to be a franchise guy in Boston could actually potentially present itself. It’s far from a guarantee that Kyrie Irving will return to the Celtics. There’s also been some doubt about whether Davis would sign a long-term deal if traded to Boston. Tatum is the natural franchise guy for the Celtics to build around if both of those guys are playing elsewhere next season.
That said, if either Irving stays or Davis is acquired (or certainly if both happen), then Tatum will be a No. 3 option with the Celtics for quite some time.
While Tatum isn’t quite at the level of those two guys, he is well on his way to being a franchise guy.
The second-year man out of Duke is averaging 16.4 points and 6.3 rebounds a game while shooting 45.3 percent from the field, 37.6 percent on threes and 85.6 percent on free throws.
That’s already solid. And given that he won’t even turn 21 until March, there’s a lot of room to grow.