Celtics Should Aim To Follow This Offseason Blueprint

The Boston Celtics have a tough offseason ahead.

Since Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles and Jaylen Brown played through a partially torn right meniscus, the future is uncertain. The Celtics have various contracts to consider offloading in the trade market, and now it’s up to team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens to get back to work.

So… what’s next? Where should the Celtics turn? What should they prioritize?

“Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, non-negotiable in terms of trades, and everyone else I’m open to,” Travis Thomas said on NESN’s “Hold My Banner” podcast. “I don’t think this is the time to trade Jaylen Brown. I have heard a lot of Celtics fans suggest that if you’re ever gonna do it, now would be the time because of the haul you’re gonna get back. But I disagree. I think keep him and Tatum together for as long as humanly possible.”

Brown signed a five-year, $304 million contract extension two years ago, and Tatum took over with the league’s current record-large supermax after signing a five-year, $315 million supermax last offseason. They’ve played side-by-side for eight seasons, not once missing the playoffs, and have already brought one championship to Boston. It’s hard to imagine the C’s splitting Tatum and Brown so abruptly.

You can watch the full episode of NESN’s “Hold My Banner” here: