Latest Jayson Tatum update could mean many things for Celtics

Jayson Tatum has never hidden his determination to return from his Achilles tear this season. Right before the Boston Celtics held media day, the six-time All-Star voiced, "I'm not working out and rehabbing six days a week for no reason," during his appearance on Today With Jenna & Friends.

More recently, after the Celtics wrapped up their shootaround at Seaholm High School before a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matchup against the Detroit Pistons, Tatum put on an extensive, hour-long on-court workout in front of the media.

While it was evident he wasn't ready to return just yet, this intentional act seemed like a substantial breadcrumb as he pushes to rejoin his teammates during the current campaign.

Nine days later, the prospect of that happening this season took a major hit.

The latest intel on Jayson Tatum's return

During Wednesday night's edition of "The Association" on NBATV, veteran insider Chris Haynes shared a rather ominous update about the hope that the Celtics will have their star forward back in time to help with this year's playoff push.

"League sources just informed me right now that Jayson Tatum is now re-evaluating his situation, and it is up in the air on if he's gonna return at all this season," said Haynes. "Now, I was told that there are a couple of factors on why he's reached that point, but as of right now, that changes the whole landscape because Tatum even told me personally, months back, he was returning at some point. He was getting ready to return, he was getting close, I was hearing they were getting close, and then, league sources informed me that the situation has changed, and now it is up in the air if he's gonna return or not."

That naturally raises concerns that Tatum may have suffered a setback in his rehab. However, Haynes noted that "there are a couple of factors" behind the decision. If it were injury-related, that would be the primary driver of this update.

Furthermore, the show starts at 7:30 p.m. EST. It seems unlikely that, if a setback occurred, the person who delivered the message would wait to inform Haynes until nearly 11 p.m. EST. The same goes for the idea that he would hold off on reporting this until then.

A late-night update from ESPN's Ramona Shelburne also eased concerns about this stemming from a setback.

The primary motive could stem from Tatum's recent appearance on "The Pivot Podcast," with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder.

The 27-year-old forward mentioned the prospect of returning 50 to 60 games into this season multiple times. That caught people's attention on social media. With Boston completing its 47th tilt Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks, perhaps this was a way of turning the temperature down.

Secondly, he addressed the idea of trying to fit back in with a team that has seen players throughout the roster thrive with more responsibility. There's also the reality that the Celtics have made significant changes to their approach on both sides of the ball and now employ a faster-paced operation.

The schematic changes aren't a cause for concern. Tatum is a cerebral player and a dynamic talent at both ends of the court. He has remained involved throughout the current campaign. He's well aware of the changes made.

However, that second part, the idea of not wanting to rock the boat, is clearly something he is cognizant of.

"If or when I do come back this season, they would have played 50-some odd games without me," noted Tatum. "They have things that have clicked and have been successful. So, there's a thought in my head like how does that look when I come back? Damn, do I come back or should I wait? I contemplate it every single day."

Still, as Sam Hauser shared after Boston's 117-106 loss to Atlanta, Tatum's teammates would, of course, happily welcome him back this year.

"If he is going to return, we're welcoming him with open arms, for sure," said Hauser. "I mean, he's such a great player. And anytime that you could have the luxury of adding a player like that into your rotation, it's pretty exciting. So, whatever his timetable is, it's kind of up to him, and you know, we're trying to focus on every day and then try to win as many games before he does come back, if he ends up coming back. So, if that's the case, we can't wait."

If the St. Louis, Missouri, native didn't suffer a setback, then leading experts in Achilles tendon repairs, like Dr. Kevin Stone, believe his return this season is "definitely realistic."

As Brad Stevens detailed in December, he has to check more boxes than getting cleared medically to receive the green light to return. However, that happening during the current campaign also seems realistic.

Tatum, his teammates, and the coaching staff can have conversations about fitting in and what that would look like. It helps that Jaylen Brown is performing like an MVP candidate while propelling Boston to the second seed in the East. The other half of the Celtics' star duo doesn't have to feel the pressure of feeling like he needs to shoulder too much responsibility too soon.

And while some fans may see No. 0 return to the parquet and judge him as if he is supposed to immediately reclaim his status as a top-five player in the league, frankly, that shouldn't be of concern to him. That group is in the minority. Even if they weren't, it shouldn't be why he delays his return.

From this vantage point, the only reasons for Tatum to wait to play until next season are medically related. The rest can get worked out, including while he acclimates to the Celtics' lineup.