Though the NBA season has been suspended for well over a month now, it hasn’t stopped the rumor mil from spinning. Most recently, it involves the likes of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal.
Prior to the NBA’s COVID-19 induced hiatus, the Boston Celtics were finding themselves in the midst of quite a successful 2019-20 campaign. Through 64 games the team registered a record of 43-21, were the third seed in the Eastern Conference, the fifth seed in the entire league and clinched their sixth consecutive postseason berth.
Their core group of ballers were proving to play like a well oiled machine when fully healthy, as they rolled out one of the most menacing starting fives the association has to offer in Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum and Daniel Theis.
Walker and Tatum were bestowed the honors of NBA All-Stars this past February and, come the season’s official end, could find two more of their players in the running for both the Most Improved Player (Brown) and Defensive Player of the Year (Marcus Smart) awards.
In short: the present and future prospects for the Boston Celtics appear to be extremely bright. And, if recent news is any indicator, conspiracy theorists may soon believe things could become even brighter
Over the past couple of days, stories pertaining to the relationship between face of the Celtics franchise Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal have surfaced. Together, the star duo teamed up to donate $500,000 to Boston and St. Louis-area food banks.
They also collaborated with St. Louis based pizzeria Imo’s to deliver 1,000 pizzas to local hospitals and healthcare facilities.
Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal deliver pizza to local healthcare workers https://t.co/Ac1aksuiWV #KMOV pic.twitter.com/g2DgbErUyR
— KMOV (@KMOV) April 19, 2020
These acts are true showings of genuine kindness from the long time friends.
Having their relationship go back to their childhood roots in St. Louis, Beal — five year’s Tatum’s elder — has been a mentor for the 22 year old All-Star since youth. Referred to as a “brother” to Tatum, Beal has given the talented wing advice and guidance every step of the way throughout his NBA tenure.
This news of their recent partnership is quite intriguing to the Houdini, being we recently penned an article discussing a deal that could bring Beal to Beantown. Now, knowing how strong of a bond the duo still has, it makes this hypothetical scenario that much more palpable.
Waisting away on the lowly Washington Wizards, the All-Star shooting guard is having his best statistical season of his career, averaging a league leading 30.5 points to go along with 6.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 35 percent shooting from deep. Despite his excellence, the Wiz still find themselves with an underwhelming 24-40 record and, though residing in the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, likely are — would have been? — heading to their second straight playoff-less season.
Though self praised for his loyalty, there comes a boiling point for everyone. Reports and legitimate quotes of his displeasure with the state of the franchise have found their way into the mainstream. This coupled with the well reported rifts between he and fellow All-Star John Wall — sidelined since December of 2018 with multiple injuries — could one day lead to a request to be shipped out of D.C.
What better place for him to land than with someone who is viewed as close as blood?
The Boston Celtics have numerous assets they could dangle that could entice Washington to accept a deal. With Gordon Hayward appearing to be fully healthy, he could prove to be a solid piece to slot into a lineup with the pass-friendly Wall once he returns.
They could package Hayward — averaging 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists on 50 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from deep — with first-year lottery pick Romeo Langford and a bevy of draft capitol (C’s hold the rights to three 2020 first rounders) in exchange for Beal, thus giving Boston a superteam starting five to rival any other the league has to offer in 2020-21.
It may sound crazy, but the C’s have the assets, and Danny Ainge has proven to have the stones to get a deal like this done.