Who is the leader of this team?

I would guess it is Tatum if you follow the tradition of the NBA that the team belongs to the best player, but this is unclear with the Cs. So unclear that even on this blog people refer to the team as belonging to the Jays.

Questions with Tatum are whether he welcomes the leadership role, whether he is equipped for the role, and whether the organization has given him a roster he can lead giving his age, seniority, and personality.

It is safe to say that Tatum did not seek nor does he relish the team leader leader position. We can agree that this position was thrust on him unexpectedly.

It was not the organization’s plan. The plan was for seasoned veterans Al Horford, Kyrie Irving, and Gordon Hayward, to lead the team. Each of these three were max contract free agents with seniority and stellar game. They had the game and tenure to lead.

With the injuries to Hayward and Kyrie, Tatum thrust himself into the limelight with a spectacular rookie season that took the team to within minutes of the NBA finals. And this sealed his acceleration to the leadership position.

With the departures of Irving, Hayward, and Horford, Tatum became the best player on the team but certain realities clouded his ascension to the leadership of the team.

First, the team brought in another max free agent veteran Kemba Walker without a definite statement of his leadership role, if any. Was he brought in to lead? Not clear, this out Tatum in limbo.

Second, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart, two very strong willed individuals, lottery picks in their own right, with seniority over Tatum. Brown, a strong willed introvert who probably has leadership aspirations of his own, and therefore has not conceded leadership to the junior Tatum. Marcus, an extrovert and vocal player, has years of seniority on Tatum and probably thinks he is the de facto  leader of the team. Their presence creates a complicated leadership picture for the team.

Third, and perhaps most important, Tatum’s personality does not lend itself to leadership in this situation. Because of his mild, shy, and introvert personality, Tatum will most likely defer to the likes of Brown and Smart. He is younger than them, he has less seniority  than them, and I am not sure that Brown will admit Tatum has more game than him. It is not surprising that it is Brown and Smart that have scuffled in the locker room, because the exhibit more  the alpha male personality. Tatum just doesn’t seem to have the personality to embrace the leadership that was prematurely thrust on him.

I may have missed it, but can someone post anything that shows any player on the Celtics acknowledging Tatum as the leader on this team.

The Cs can take steps to fix this ….

a. Trade Brown and Smart if they do not accept Tatum as the team leader. This is drastic, but Tatum would probably be able to lead younger players that accept his leadership and tenure in the league. Problem is, is he ready to wait for those players to develop.

b. Keep Brown and Smart but name Tatum the team captain, have him present at introductory pressers for new signings, and make other moves and pronouncements that solidify him as the captain.