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Just two weeks ago, the Boston Celtics shocked the NBA by trading one of their homegrown franchise superstars in Jaylen Brown to a division rival in the Philadelphia 76ers. The return was criticized by many, as the Celtics only received a highly expensive and aging Paul George, along with two first round picks and two second round picks.
On the surface, this trade looks like a total fiasco for the Celtics. They replaced a Brown in his prime with an old George, and didn’t get as many picks as they were hoping for either. However, this trade might have been the best thing the Celtics could have done if you inspect closer.
A Brown extension would’ve broken the Celtics
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
First and foremost, the Celtics would not have been able to afford to keep Brown anyway, not with his extension eligibility coming up. Looks at Cleveland Cavaliers franchise superstar Donovan Mitchell: He was just extended for four years, $273 million. By the end of that contract, he will be making a whopping $75 million per year.
Brown will command a much bigger extension than that, and at some point, so will Jayson Tatum. Under the new CBA, it’s just not feasible to have both players anymore. So one had to be cut, and Tatum wasn’t going to be it.
Tatum’s metrics are overall better
© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
Now that the Celtics have traded Brown, it seems that the roster is going to be completely built around Tatum, similar to how the Houston Rockets completely built around James Harden, and the OKC Thunder built around Russell Westbrook when Kevin Durant left.
Tatum is a beast when the ball is in his hands. Noted by FOX analyst Colin Cowherd, the Celtics are dominant when Tatum controls the ball most of the time. In the past four seasons when his usage rate is above a third of the time, the Celtics win almost 90% of their games, going 76-9.
When it’s lower? The Celtics are 99-52, which is still almost 66%, but you’re sacrificing a whopping 24% by just not giving Tatum the ball more.
Tatum is the sole superstar
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
So, there’s no argument now: the Celtics are Tatum’s team. Stars like George, Payton Pritchard, and Derrick White will support him, along with all their other top tier role players.
This might be the way to go; the only way to find out is to watch next season, and compare it to how Brown does with Philadelphia.
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