Through the offseason and most of next season, Jayson Tatum will be recovering from the Achilles injury he suffered during the second round of the postseason. While he might be laid up, it’s not stopping him from trying to help the Boston Celtics in other ways.
Following an array of trades this offseason, the Celtics roster is going to look much different heading into the 2026 campaign. Their loaded starting unit has taken a hit, along with their depth. As the front office continues to retool the cast of talent around Tatum and company, the star forward is doing his part to try to get a high-profile name to Boston.
During a recent appearance on the “Garden Report” podcast, Celtics insider Gary Washburn opened up on Tatum’s recruitment efforts this offseason. He’s been in contact with Damian Lillard, who is also recovering from an Achilles injury. Earlier this month, the nine-time All-Star was waive-and-stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks so they could sign free-agent big man Myles Turner.
“I just was told that they’re communicating and Tatum is recruiting,” Washburn told the Garden Report podcast. “Tatum is the face of the franchise. So, yeah, you’re told he’s recruiting. I don’t know if they’re like FaceTiming every day or they’re on Snapchat and sharing videos. … Like, I don’t know if it’s that deep, but they are communicating and I think we all know Tatum’s going to be here for a long time.”
Bringing Lillard to Boston would be a long-term play, and one that makes a lot of sense for the Celtics. With Tatum being on a similar recovery timeline, it looks like next season could be a gap year for the iconic franchise anyway. They could take their time with both stars in hopes they can return to form in 2027 and instantly get the Celtics back in the title hunt.
