There's no way to positively spin losing Jayson Tatum for what could be the entire 2025-26 season due to a devastating Achilles injury. Tatum endured excruciating pain and the Boston Celtics are now tasked with playing without their All-NBA First Team mainstay.
If there's one silver lining to be found, however, it's the fact that Boston can figure out which current pieces fit long term by increasing their usage and testing their resolve with Tatum out.
Regardless of how the 2025 NBA Playoffs ended for the Celtics, the new governorship group was always going to blow the roster up. It's the unavoidable truth that had been reported at large long before the franchise-altering trades of the 2025 offseason were made.
Boston was in line to face the wrath of the second apron, and the new governorship was destined to take action to avoid those penalties—financial and otherwise.
Once that transpired, the Celtics were going to find themselves in a troubling position. Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis were essential contributors to Boston's championship success, and replacing them without incurring new costs was destined to border on impossible in 2025.
With Tatum sidelined, the Celtics have found the only possible silver lining: An opportunity to decide who actually makes sense to keep beyond the 2025-26 season and thus help Tatum contend again.
Celtics can identify who fits with Jayson Tatum long-term in 2025-26
Tatum is among the most versatile and unselfish players in the NBA. As such, the question was never going to be a matter of who could complement his style, but rather how capable those around him are of rising to the occasion with three former All-Stars removed from the Celtics' roster.
Rather than enduring a season of trepidation and fear of stepping on the superstar's toes, said players will now have a green light that could prove invaluable long term.
Boston will rely on players such as Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, and Neemias Queta to reveal how significant their upside truly is. Some are clearly more proven than others, but minutes, touches, and responsibilities should increase across the board.
The quality of their respective play will go a long way toward informing the Celtics on what changes need to be made in order to help Tatum contend as soon as 2026-27.
Furthermore, said players' respective progress will prepare them for the pressure of playing a bigger role alongside a superstar duo in Brown and Tatum. The learn-by-fire experience should reveal significant elements of how ready they are to help that proven pairing to compete at the highest level.
The Celtics clearly would've preferred to have Tatum on the court during this time, but removing four high-level and high-usage players in one fell swoop creates a unique opportunity for lesser-utilized individuals.
Perhaps some will struggle, but those who excel will solidify their place as crucial contributors and long-term assets. The same decision will thus be made about how Anfernee Simons fits, assuming he's still on the Celtics' roster by the start of the 2025-26 season.
There's nothing ideal about playing without Tatum, but the door has been opened for crucial up-and-comers to reveal just how legitimate their value is to the Celtics' long-term goals.