Boston Celtics: 3 Reasons why a healthy Gordon Hayward may hinder the development of Jayson Tatum

Too many minutes to go around

Coming into the 2019 season, the Boston Celtics are flush with talents all deserving of collecting meaningful minutes during the regular season. With the NBA becoming more of a position-less league, players, now more than ever, can be slotted in at numerous positions throughout a game.

As for the Celtics, with their average size of around six-foot-six, minutes can be collected by various different players anywhere from the one to the three slot. While many can look at this and think positively (it will allow players at these positions to garner even more minutes of rest) this also means the potential for less minutes of play time for these individuals — this includes Tatum, one of the team’s starting forwards.

Just to clarify, let me state that Tatum is obviously more talented than 90% of the players residing on this roster. However, with the versatility Boston has, his minutes may be cut into to get these other individuals more playing time, while also giving his body more rest.

Now, I know what you may be thinking:

If this idea is true, wouldn’t this also impact the overall minutes of Gordon Hayward?

Obviously we wont know until the regular seasons comes into fruition, but with Hayward likely  being both mentally and physically healthy for virtually the first time since signing with Boston two years ago, the coaching staff and the front office may be inclined to give him as many minutes as possible. The hope is that Hayward finally lives up to his massive contract.

With Jaylen Brown, Romeo Langford, Marcus Smart, Grant Williams and Semi Ojeleye all slated to collect minutes at the the three-spot, it may be hard for Tatum for receive the amount of playing time at small forward. That would be his natural position.

Yes, they’ll probably slot him in at the two-guard from time to time, but with the influx of talent the team has in their backcourt (Walker, Brown, Smart, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters) minutes there could be hard to come by.

Tatum will also log minutes at the power forward this season, as he did last year. However, with his slender size (208 pounds), depending on how many minutes he collects at the four, it could wind up being too much strain on his body. That could be doubly true when going up against bigger opponents (average weight for NBA power forward is 245 pounds).

Stevens has a delicate line to toe. If he could find a way to allow both Hayward and Tatum to thrive, the Boston Celtics will be better off for it.