Time to think about trading Tatum?

[nickagneta]

I don't have a problem with Jayson's shooting struggles. He has taken on the role of the team's #1 scoring option but is still trying to find his way as teams start to treat him like a #1 scoring option.

Jayson has decreased the amount of shots he is taking from 10' out to the three point line, which is great, but he needs to remove shooting from these distances as much as possible. So let's hope we see more of that as this season and Jayson's career progresses.

Tatum also needs to finish at the rim much better, whether through contact or not. Either way he needs to finish at a much better rate. As I said elsewhere, he needs for the game to slow down a bit for him and I think when it does you will see Jayson's efficiency take a big jump as he finishes better while living at the line. It won't be this year, but that's okay. Let him work it out and in a year or two the Celtics will have an efficient 26+ points per game scorer.

Great thing is, while Tatum is working it out, he is playing alongside three other guys that can all be #1 scoring options that will pick up the slack in games Tatum does struggle with his shot.

What I love about Jayson is:

1. He has that shooter's/scorer's mentality of not letting the fact he just missed a bunch of shots bother him and he just keeps shooting because he knows when the next one goes in then they will all start going in. You HAVE to have that in you if you are going to be an elite scorer.

2. Jayson is not letting his shooting and scoring struggles and inconsistencies affect the other areas of his game. The kid plays great defense regardless of what he does on the offensive end and has been a great rebounder playing as a wing. And he runs the floor hard and is, at the very least, trying to improve his passing game, even if only incrementally.

Tatum is this team's future with Brown. In the near future these two guys are going to be averaging over 50 points a game combined to lead this team. You don't trade him now simply because he is still learning his craft at age 21, and even moreso because while learning, Tatum is still averaging 21/7/3 with excellent defense and some unreal advanced stats.

[Sophomore]

I think what Nick says is right on. The current efficiency issues are real, and they disappoint me sometimes too, but there’s every reason to think he’ll figure it out. Meantime the defense is very good.

[iadera]

Just another bad game by Tatum last night, shooting 2/16 and showing that Kemba is our most reliable player.
 

[jbpats]

Tatum is a stud but needs to realize when it’s not his night.

That said if Tatum for towns is on the table Ainge would have to take it.

[RockinRyA]

I know JT’s going through a rough patch but please...

I don't even think it is that big of a rough patch, he has had some bad shooting nights.  It happens.  How many poor shooting nights did Paul P have in his 3rd season?  I counted 13 games where PP shot less than 35%.

Minn isn't trading Kat for Tatum.  DA isn't trading Tatum for anyone other than a Kawaii / Lebron MVP type player.  None of those players are available right now. 

We are going to be lucky and happy to have Tatum and Brown in a year or two when both of them are in all star games battling Giannis and the bucks every year to make it to the finals.

Thats 13 games over the course of a full season. Tatum has almost the same amount in less than half the games.

Tatum might eventually be an efficient player. He is very young afterall, which is why you do not trade him. But right now there is no justification for taking the amount of shots he is taking right now, shots that should go to more efficient players in Hayward and Brown. Same with Marcus (who is my favorite celtic), I prefer his attempts last year.

I too get irritated sometimes by Tatum's iso- plays, but I don't think he taking shots away from Brown (or Hayward) who was EC player-of-the-week and could make the ASG.

just this game I saw some plays that ended with him and smart being the only one that touched the ball where he forced it, and Brown and Hayward were there with him.

I know JT’s going through a rough patch but please...

I don't even think it is that big of a rough patch, he has had some bad shooting nights.  It happens.  How many poor shooting nights did Paul P have in his 3rd season?  I counted 13 games where PP shot less than 35%.

Minn isn't trading Kat for Tatum.  DA isn't trading Tatum for anyone other than a Kawaii / Lebron MVP type player.  None of those players are available right now. 

We are going to be lucky and happy to have Tatum and Brown in a year or two when both of them are in all star games battling Giannis and the bucks every year to make it to the finals.

Thats 13 games over the course of a full season. Tatum has almost the same amount in less than half the games.

Tatum might eventually be an efficient player. He is very young afterall, which is why you do not trade him. But right now there is no justification for taking the amount of shots he is taking right now, shots that should go to more efficient players in Hayward and Brown. Same with Marcus (who is my favorite celtic), I prefer his attempts last year.

FWIW, Pierce actually had 16 games shooting less that 35% in '00-'01, and 8 of those were in the first 32 games.

Right now, the Cs have played 32 games, and Tatum has 9 of those games. So it's comparable.

Sure, but Pierce also played in an era where there is less freedom on offense and fouls are called less. Despite that he also generated more than twice FT attempts per game while being the primary focus of the opposing team's defense.

The numbers don't actually reflect that. FT numbers have remained rather static over the last 20 years. Teams averaged 22.3 PF per game in '00-'01 and 20.9 last season. Teams averaged 24.9 FTPG in '00-'01; 23.1 last season. this season teams are at 20.8 fouls and 22.8 FTs, respectively.

And also, Pierce and Tatum are vastly different players. Their offensive games aren't very similar. If you ask, "Yeah, but you made the point of comparing earlier," I was referring to a similarity in shooting averages, not how they play the game.

Let me put it this way, it takes a lot of contact to be called for a foul then than today.

PP has retired and suddenly people forgot how good he was.

Say what you guys want, but Tatum shouldnt be shooting more than Brown or Hayward. And he should at least explore other options and not tend to be a blackhole on offense. His offensive game is starting to frustrate me.

[SparzWizard]

Tatum is a stud but needs to realize when it’s not his night.

That said if Tatum for towns is on the table Ainge would have to take it.

Ofc you have to trade Tatum for Towns. Towns rebounds and scoring would be huge for this team.

[Tr1boy]

Tatum is a stud but needs to realize when it’s not his night.

That said if Tatum for towns is on the table Ainge would have to take it.

He needs to model his game after Paul George and not Kobe Bryant or Kyme Irving

-Pass the ball to the open/hot player

-Stick to spot up shooting when there is nothing available at the rim

At times there are players considered less skilled or rookie wide open and he rather take the difficult shot.  Trust your teammates and if they are struggling its up to Brad to yank them out

[obnoxiousmime]

The only players I would trade him for are not available. He's in the second tier of top young players right now and you're never going to get equal or better value. The only player I would deal him for currently is Luka Doncic, Zion, or Giannis with an extension commitment.

Other than that, there are certainly young players comparable in skill level but they play positions that aren't as valuable as the versatile wing spot. Trae Young, Booker, Fox, and Morant are guards and don't offer Tatum's defensive versatility. Jaren Jackson Jr. is still developing but I haven't been impressed with his growth this year. Ayton is going to be a beast down low but what about his D and outside game?

As frustrating as Tatum's low efficiency has been this year, he's shown enough improvement for me to believe in his potential again. Once he gets stronger he will be able to control his body much more on drives and post-ups. Brown has always had an NBA body, but his improvement in technique and handle give me confidence Tatum can also make that kind of leap next season.

[ManUp]

I was unaware of Bryant injury...reading 3 weeks then re-evaluate.

I'm still high on both those players: Bertans and Bryant


I was a fan of Tatum and liked what he did his rookie year but after last year I slowly began lose hope that he was going to be a great player and this year hasn't helped that. Like I said he is still a really good player and has a high ceiling I am just not confident he is going to get much better.


I know I am in the minority that would do that WAS trade and thats why I am not a GM lol

BUT the point was should BOS think about trading Tatum? I see the potential in Tatum but it could be just that...potential.

I don't get why people give Tatum so much hate, but Brown besides his FG%, is averaging the same across the board. Tatum's shot selection is iffy, but if he makes like half of those mid-range fadeaways, no one would even be complaining..

Jaylen is super efficient, Tatum is super inefficient.

Tatum is shooting at Marcus Smart levels efficiency wise.

[ScoobyDoo]

Tatum has proven time and again that he hits big shots when it matters most. I’m ok with his efficiency, or la k there of, as he continues to learn what does and doesn’t work. He’s only 21. Doesn’t he also have a crazy on/off or +/-, a positive barometer of a okyer’s impact?..

[Tr1boy]

Strong game by Tatum

One of his best this season

[RockinRyA]

I was unaware of Bryant injury...reading 3 weeks then re-evaluate.

I'm still high on both those players: Bertans and Bryant


I was a fan of Tatum and liked what he did his rookie year but after last year I slowly began lose hope that he was going to be a great player and this year hasn't helped that. Like I said he is still a really good player and has a high ceiling I am just not confident he is going to get much better.


I know I am in the minority that would do that WAS trade and thats why I am not a GM lol

BUT the point was should BOS think about trading Tatum? I see the potential in Tatum but it could be just that...potential.

I don't get why people give Tatum so much hate, but Brown besides his FG%, is averaging the same across the board. Tatum's shot selection is iffy, but if he makes like half of those mid-range fadeaways, no one would even be complaining..

Jaylen is super efficient, Tatum is super inefficient.

Tatum is shooting at Marcus Smart levels efficiency wise.

Bingo. Also I think people would still be unhappy even if he hit those shots. People were mad at Kyries's playstyle despite having career shooting numbers.q

Today was a more controlled game from Tatum (although he had some blackhole moments in the 4th, some ended in a hit and some in turnovers)

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I was unaware of Bryant injury...reading 3 weeks then re-evaluate.

I'm still high on both those players: Bertans and Bryant


I was a fan of Tatum and liked what he did his rookie year but after last year I slowly began lose hope that he was going to be a great player and this year hasn't helped that. Like I said he is still a really good player and has a high ceiling I am just not confident he is going to get much better.


I know I am in the minority that would do that WAS trade and thats why I am not a GM lol

BUT the point was should BOS think about trading Tatum? I see the potential in Tatum but it could be just that...potential.

I don't get why people give Tatum so much hate, but Brown besides his FG%, is averaging the same across the board. Tatum's shot selection is iffy, but if he makes like half of those mid-range fadeaways, no one would even be complaining..

Jaylen is super efficient, Tatum is super inefficient.

Tatum is shooting at Marcus Smart levels efficiency wise.

He really isn't. Smart has never had a year efficiency-wise like Tatum is having this year. Especially if you include usage in your efficiency estimation.

[mainevent]

If Danny trades Tatum, he'd be the dumbest GM in the history of the league. Period. Much like a lot of these comments in this thread SMH.  Why not just trade Jaylen and Kemba...tank and start the whole thing over! It amazes me how some people can't understand just how young Tatum is! His game is far from fully developed and he's STILL a force! This is not M Fultz or L Ball we're talking about here.  Ignorance is bliss...

[Ogaju]

Tatum is untouchable.