It appears Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge made the right choice in trading the No. 1 pick overall and selecting Jayson Tatum.
Early indications are that Jayson Tatum is the real deal. The Boston Celtics 2017 first-round selection has impressed during the Summer League and received major kudos from a player he has drawn comparisons to, Paul Pierce.
ESPN’s Chris Forsberg shared a quote from the Celtics legend from an Instagram via Twitter on Monday.
In the live session, Pierce is quoted saying, “That Tatum kid, he’s going to be real. …I like that kid.”
Paul Pierce during his Instagram live session on the common today: “That Tatum kid, he’s going to be real. … I like that kid.” pic.twitter.com/fWUKkeELPo
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 18, 2017
Those words have to mean a lot to Tatum, who was scouted as having a similar game as Pierce. His 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in six Summer League games earned him All-Summer League Second Team honors.
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With the way he played in those games, he would’ve easily made the first team if he played in all the games. Celtics fans are certainly looking forward to seeing him play once training camp begins.
Walter McCarty adds praise
Assistant coach Walter McCarty has played with Paul Pierce and had a chance to get an up-close look at Jayson Tatum during the Summer League games.
Speaking to The Vertical’s Chris Mannix, McCarty compared Tatum to Pierce for his ability to create his own shot.
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"“He really reminds me of Paul Pierce,” McCarty said. “With the footwork and how he scores, just lulling you to sleep. With Paul, he could get to his shot no matter who was guarding him. Tatum plays the same way.”"
McCarty added that the Duke product has fantastic footwork to go along with a “natural ability to score.” He thinks Tatum could turn out to be a very special player in the NBA.
While the hype could ultimately lead to disappointment, it is apparent Jayson Tatum will get the opportunity to produce this season. Playing alongside Isaiah Thomas and Gordon Hayward should only help the offensive repertoire he possesses.
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