Many are starting to believe that a former Duke star shouldn’t return to the NBA, and in some sense, it isn’t the worst take. However, I don’t agree with it.
Kenyon Martin raised a fair concern about timing and chemistry, but I land on the opposite side of this one.
If ex-Duke forward Jayson Tatum is healthy enough to play, I think he should come back, and I don’t think it automatically hurts what the Boston Celtics have done this season.
Martin’s argument was centered around disrupting what Boston has built. He’s worried that a late return would force Boston to change its identity in the playoffs.
“He disrupts what they’ve built all year. If he comes back in April, the season’s basically over, because you’re trying to integrate him into playoff basketball,” the former NBA star said on “The Arena,” per Hoops Hype. “These dudes just played 80-something games together. They didn’t do it without him—it changed everyone’s roles and rotations.”
Kenyon makes some sense, but it also assumes Tatum is just a random piece being dropped into the mix. This is Jayson Tatum we’re talking about at the end of the day.
While the Celtics have played very well without him on the roster due to his Achilles injury that he suffered against the New York Knicks last year, none of that erases the fact that Tatum is the best player on the roster and would be a nice addition late in the year.
If he’s cleared and good to go, I don’t see why the Celtics wouldn’t want him back, especially if there’s no risk for him to get re-injured.
Boston has been impressive without Tatum, but that doesn’t mean they’re better off without his shot-making, size, and defensive ability.
More importantly, if Tatum can play, sitting him sends the wrong message to the star. A team doesn’t bench its best player in the postseason, or we haven’t seen it much.
If he’s not healthy, that’s one thing.
However, if he is? I think the Celtics should take his talent, live with whatever comes, and give themselves the best chance to win.