The Boston Celtics got a strange Jayson Tatum injury update on Wednesday night as the fan base patiently awaits the star's return from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
"It is up in the air on if (Tatum is) going to return at all this season," senior NBA insider Chris Haynes reported. "I was told there were a couple of factors of why he’s reached that point. But as of right now, that changes the whole landscape because Tatum even told me personally he was returning at some point... He was getting close... and league sources told me that the situation has changed.”
Almost immediately, local reporters pushed back against the reports. NBC Sports Boston's Chris Forsberg believes the report should probably be dismissed, and wonders if the report was Tatum's agent airing thoughts out to get a feel for the reaction.
"I don't know if this is just it being reaffirmed that he's having some real heavy thoughts about how he fits and not wanting to disrupt, or if he's truly pondering if the best path is to just wait," Forsberg said about Haynes' report, via fellow Celtics reporter Darren Hartwell.
Given that head coach Joe Mazzulla has reported "zero setbacks" from Tatum's camp, any sense of confusion is valid. As such, one has to wonder if the Celtics are less likely to be active at the trade deadline if they don't expect No. 0 to return this season.
At the same time, just because Tatum's return timetable is unclear doesn't mean Boston should sit on its hands next week.
Celtics Must Treat Trade Deadline like Business as Usual
Quite frankly, de facto general manager Brad Stevens doesn't need to think about Tatum much in the next week. He has a top-three team in the Eastern Conference, giving him every reason to bolster the roster.
The Celtics have a frontcourt that could really use an extra body, with the Amari Williams experiment providing wildly varying results and Luka Garza being good, but possibly not good enough on the defensive end in a postseason setting to be trusted if Neemias Queta faces foul trouble or injury woes.
Reports link Stevens to offers for Anfernee Simons and draft capital to upgrade the center spot. Boston reportedly pursued Ivica Zubac from the L.A. Clippers and was denied. Meanwhile, the Celtics told the Chicago Bulls "no" on a similar proposal involving Nikola Vucevic.
A trade to upgrade the frontcourt is likely next week, whether it's a deal for a more impactful player than Simons or a cheaper option to lower the tax bill.
Tatum's return, whether it happens or not, can't hold up any plans Stevens had before the six-time NBA All-Star's return was a thought in anyone's mind. Besides, a deal in the coming days might motivate the Celtics' star to get back on the floor sooner rather than later.
Celtics' Potential Trade Deadline Moves Could Spark Jayson Tatum to Return Sooner
For all we know, Tatum might've been attempting to put the onus on Stevens to swing a blockbuster deal. Right now, the pressure is on Tatum, with discourse surrounding whether a return could hurt Jaylen Brown's play. In 2025-26, Brown has been a borderline-MVP candidate.
It helps Tatum if there's another lineup addition that the team would have to adjust its play to accommodate. Right now, it's shaky ground if a return doesn't go well for Tatum. Add another player, and the blame is spread out.
Stevens can save his star player from increased pressure and awkward questions about his fit by making a deal at the deadline. He'd be helping his other star player, who's been carrying the team all season, in the process.
Everybody wins with a deal that brings another impactful big man to Beantown if Simons and picks are the price. Who says no? Hopefully not opposing GMs. Stevens definitely shouldn't, under any circumstances.
That's why the Celtics must treat the trade deadline as if they were at full strength. If Tatum doesn't return, Boston will likely still be in the title mix. But if a deadline splash happens and the franchise's top player returns before the end of the season, the sky will truly be the Celtics' limit this spring.