When the Celtics signed Jayson Tatum to a five-year max extension in November 2020, they were looking for him to deliver superstar performances in the postseason. He did just that in Game 6 against Milwaukee on Friday, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes. Tatum saved Boston’s season and forced a Game 7 with his 46-point outburst.
“It’s why he gets paid the big bucks. That’s it right there, for moments like that,” Celtics guardMarcus Smart said. “I was telling him the whole game, ‘Just be you, man,’ and he was. That’s what he gets paid to do. That’s what we lean on him to do.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Kyrie Irving‘s tumultuous season will apparently cost him a lucrative sponsorship. Nike is unlikely to extend Irving’s signature shoe contract beyond next season, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski report. The Nets guard has had a business relationship with the company since 2014. It’s still expected Nike will offer some product associated with him in the future, such as retro shoes from previous collections.
- Re-signing free agent Bruce Brown for anything less than $10MM should be a priority for the Nets, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger also believes Brooklyn will defer the first-round pick Philadelphia owes them until next year in order to retain its flexibility on trades. Hollinger and Alex Schiffer explore the Nets’ offseason extension and free agent decisions in this analysis piece.
- With the lottery approaching on Tuesday, Fred Katz of The Athletic looks at five mock draft scenarios for the Knicks, depending upon where they end up in the first round.
Hollinger’s saying the opposite of Marks about the 76ers pick. Marks could be throwing a smokescreen, but it’s doubtful that the Sixers will fare worse next year than this year. Without the Sixers’ pick, the Nets will have no first rounders this year. Unless they see no one eligible this year that interests them being available, I think they’ll keep the pick. Someone like EJ Liddell could be available at 23.
I hope the nets take the pick. This draft is weak and at 23, most likely not going to find a player who can help immediately.
This draft is definitely not weak. There will be multiple guys available at 23 that could help next season
This draft is garbage. Not even worth talking about. Pick 23 is worthless to the sixers
I wouldn’t say weak, just not a lot of guys ready to contribute to a contender from day 1
Almost feels the guys that go around 20-30 are gonna be the guys most ready to contribute from day1, Wendell Moore, Tari Eason, Ron Harper Jr, Nikola Jovic, Christian Koloko, etc.
No draft is weak if a team knows how to evaluate prospects.
Nets are title contender, keep everyone
2 superstars + 1 good player + good coach = title contender
KD + Irving + Simmons
LeBron + AD + Westbrook
Embiid + Harden + Harris
Curry + Klay + Draymond
Tatum + Brown + Smart
Giannis + Middleton + Holiday
This season, Lebron would have been better off playing with two sweat mops dressed like Jack Nicholson over AD and Westbrick.
I’m certainly not a Kyrie fan but the Nike situation smells of BS politics. The article really reads; Nike (an ultra woke company) won’t renew their deal with a Kyrie because the player went against the the establishment and didn’t get the poke.
I think those are just assumptions. His shoes dont sell. They arent that nice. He even said something about it a year or 2 ago
As if Kyrie isn’t “ultra woke”?
Please.
To be fair, Kyries shoes dont sell, so I would think that has more to do with it
Marcus Smart was also super important for them against Holiday, so hopefully he gets more credit himself
Nets have trade exceptions they need to use. Makes sense to me. Don’t need to pay a guy to sit. They have all their picks from last yr still developing. Nets young guys are good. Edwards, Cam, even Duke. With the 11 mill and 6 mill TE they can find two good players. Plus Harris will be back. Drummond, Claxton, Aldridge, Griffin, Dragic all are FA.