Boston Celtics: Is Jayson Tatum the recruiter or recruitee?

Should the Boston Celtics be worried about Jayson Tatum in the Olympics?

As we all know, Boston Celtics superstar, Jayson Tatum, is a key building block of the 2021 Olympic basketball team.

A question of loyalty has risen from many doubters of the young star, questioning if he will be doing the recruiting, or will he be recruited?

The team is loaded with talent — Lillard, Beal, Durant, Booker, Adebayo, and plenty more.

Star-studded lineups, whether in the All-Star Game or the Olympics, always mean one thing — recruitment.

Damian Lillard voiced some displeasure with his organization.

We all know Bradley Beal has ties with Tatum, and clearly isn’t happy in Washington, but what does it all mean?

Would Tatum be telling those guys to come to Boston, or would he be listening to their pitches as well?

There is no real way to know, other than to contextualize and use our logic.

Many people, such as Boston sports radio, will tell you this is the end of the world; that we may as well kiss Tatum goodbye.

But that is a clear overreaction.

Do we really think Tatum is gonna go team up with Beal in Washington? Do we really think our face-of-the-franchise star is going to leave a big market like Boston to go to Portland and play second fiddle to Dame?

If I was Tatum, I would honestly feel insulted.

Some think so low of him, that at the slightest bit of adversity he will crumble and leave Boston?

Think of him like Kawhi Leonard, just because he’s unassuming does not mean he is weak-minded.

Take it from him:

"“I’m certain that we can name plenty of other guys who are special and led their team and, I don’t know, in a quieter way, just because of their demeanor. Not necessarily yelling and screaming on the court or in the huddle so that everyone can see."

He continued:

"“It can be in how you play, how you show up every day. You know, pulling guys to the side, which everybody won’t see that. I’m certain that people think that since I’m not overly emotional or do things like that, they can kind of question whatever they want to question. Leadership comes in all different types of fashions. I just do it in my own way.”"

Even though the game today is all about player empowerment, which is a good thing, it doesn’t mean every star just up-and-leaves at the first chance he can get.

Tatum has long voiced his commitment to Boston, stating multiple times he would like to spend his career in Beantown.

With the current moves President-Stevens has made, the team now has a max slot open for the 2022-23 NBA season. Obviously, this would mean saying goodbye to some tenured Celtics, but it makes it a lot easier to acquire that illustrious third star.

The most likely candidate is Tatum’s fellow St.Louis brother, Bradley Beal.

Beal has been long mentioned in Boston Celtics trade rumors, and now that Tatum and Brown have truly transformed into top-tier talents, it seems like a better time than ever.

Beal has a player option in the 2022-23 season, and although he would be declining upwards of $37 million, I’m sure he would forego the “supermax” to make similar money on a contender.

Beal clearly doesn’t want to waste his career away on fringe playoff teams anymore.

The All-Star and All-NBA caliber guard has looked disappointed on the bench very often as his team is getting blown out, but you won’t find many quotes of him publicly trashing his situation.

However the same cannot be said for his wife, Kamiah:

Whatever does happen in these coming seasons, I think it’s fair to say Tatum is staying put for now.