The Celtics have Tatum, Brown, Smart, and Rob signed until 2024 for less than $95M. There will be room to add another star before then, if it becomes clear that it’s necessary.
Rob will vastly outplay his extension and be extremely valuable to this team. He’s 24, a defensive menace inside and on the perimeter, an elite finisher, a good passer, and he’ll get credit for being one of the best defenders in the NBA, once we start winning. Sacramento wanted no parts of him on the inside, he deters drivers whenever he’s inside.
His jump to 29+ MPG, while maintaining effectiveness/efficiency and health, has greatly improved his value. Only Green, Mobley, and Adebayo have better defensive ratings as Bigs and we’re 4th in defensive rating as a team. We’re 6 games behind 1st, all it will take is one good winning streak for him to start getting the credit he deserves.
I know most are blinded by the current record, but pairing Tatum and Brown with 3 low usage players is a stroke of genius and will only look better with time.