Boston Celtics: this time around Cs “better bring out the Brinks truck”

This past weekend, reports surfaced that many expect the Cs will offer Jayson Tatum a max extension this offseason. Unlike a former Boston Celtics star who was up for a massive payday in 2017, this one better get it.

The tale of the Boston Celtics’ 2019-20 season cannot be told without mentioning 22-year-old wing Jayson Tatum.

Tatum, the former third overall pick back in 2017, has managed to wipe away all fears — regardless of how big or small — that surfaced after somewhat of a sophomore slump last season and, in turn, has convincingly etched himself into the conversation as being one of the brightest young talents the National Basketball Association has to offer moving forward.

A first-time All-Star this season, the third-year pro has boasted incredible averages of 23.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and just shy of a block per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent shooting from deep. Going up against the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, and countless other top-tier talents at the same or similar position, Tatum has seemingly managed to match their brilliance step by step.

Behind his excellence, as well as the impressive performances by fellow All-Star Kemba Walker, arguable All-Star snub Jaylen Brown, former All-Star Gordon Hayward, and defensive guru Marcus Smart, by the time of the COVID-19 induced hiatus on March 11th, the Boston Celtics found themselves sitting soundly in the upper-echelon of teams around the league.

With a record of 43-21, the shamrocks slotted in at the third-seed in the Eastern Conference, fifth in the entire association, and, with their victory over the Indiana Pacers the night before the league’s hiatus, were on their way to their sixth consecutive postseason appearance.

Whether the season continues — many reports suggest July 31st is the target date — or not, one thing that certainly is not an “up-in-the-air” discussion: once the offseason hits, “Jay Tats” is gonna get paid.

You guys like my groovy nickname for Jayson Tatum?

“Jay Tats”?

No?

Moving along then…

Like his fellow young wing Jaylen Brown was this past offseason, Tatum will find himself eligible for a lofty contract extension come the climax of the current campaign. However, unlike how many viewed the team’s decision to bestow such a lucrative deal to Brown as questionable — though, to everyone’s delight, he is living up to every penny –, once it’s Tatum’s turn to sign the dotted line, no one will bat an eye.

And, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Celtics, too, are likely aligned with this mindset:

Now, like many of the players around the NBA have already brought to light, the inclusion of “most likely” in this report is just simply unnecessary. Sure, perhaps it was a precautionary measure by Windhorst, but come the start of next season Tatum’s bank account is going to be a lot more full.

Still, at the end of the day, nothing is written in stone. Take the tragic fall from grace Isaiah Thomas saw during the 2017 offseason. After a year in which he had finished with averages of 28.9 points, 5.9 assists and 2.7 boards per game, placed fifth in the running for league MVP, and helped guide the team — through much personal adversity, mind you — to the Eastern Conference Finals, it was almost certain he would be paid handsomely that summer, as he was an impending free agent.

Confident in his potential earnings during the summer going into the 2016-17 season, Thomas came forth with one of the Houdini’s favorite quotes:

"“They better bring out the Brinks truck…”"

Had it not been for his unfortunate hip injury during that year’s postseason, Danny Ainge likely would have had said Brinks truck roll right into IT’s bank account. Instead, however, we saw the fan-favorite point guard shipped off to Cleveland extensionless in exchange for Kyrie Irving and… well, we all know how that story played out.

Though they are two different players in entirely different situations, one can only hope that the Boston Celtics won’t skip out on rewarding the fine play of Tatum like they did with Thomas.

You can bet on the Brinks truck rolling in for the third-year pro once he hits the negotiation table this offseason — whenever that may be.