Paul George may not be able to fully replace the production Boston lost from its previous version at age 36, but the Celtics’ ceiling will still hinge on how smoothly he meshes with Jayson Tatum. Early signs, at least from George’s side, sound encouraging.
George said Tatum has made the transition easy from the start.
“JT’s done a great job of allowing me to be me and just coming into this as myself and just fit right in with the group,” he said. “So I’ve been more than comfortable since Day One coming in.
There’s going to be some growing things and still figuring things out and learning stuff, but they’ve done a great job of kind of just I think helping me get acclimated right away. It was great that we got together this summer to where again I feel comfortable coming in and you know being me and applying what I do.”
The connection between the two makes sense on paper, and Boston’s own star has long known George as a model for the kind of wing he wanted to become. Washburn noted that Tatum has been compared to George since he entered the league because of their similar size and skill sets, and Tatum said he studied George closely while coming up.
“I’m around that generation of kids that kind of grew up watching him play, especially you know when I was in middle school and high school,” Tatum said. “He definitely was one of the guys that you know when I was coming up.
I used to watch a lot of film on just that archetype of two-way player, 6-9, scoring all three levels. He was definitely, somebody when I was high school, college, even early in my career that I would always try to steal things from and watch what he was doing, just because the way that I played.”
Elsewhere in Boston, Dillon Mitchell decided not to return to college for a fifth season after the Celtics took him with the 40th pick in June. The two-way player said the chance to keep building with the NBA club was enough to settle the question.
“I’m here. I worked hard to get here,” said Mitchell, who’s on a two-way contract.
“Just the development side of it, I thought. Just the few months I’ve had here was enough for me.
I mean, I want to be here, and I worked hard to get here, so it was an easy decision for me.”
Payton Pritchard is now eligible for an extension that could reach $67MM over three years, and Brian Robb of MassLive said in a mailbag column that the Celtics guard has a real choice to make. Robb called it another team-friendly possibility if Pritchard signs now rather than waiting in hopes of boosting his value next year. Still, he also noted that Pritchard would be 30 when he reaches free agency, which makes locking in the money now a sensible path.
Joe Mazzulla, meanwhile, chose The Citadel for training camp because of the setting and what it represents. The South Carolina school is one of six senior military colleges in the country, and Mazzulla said the environment fits his interest in military leadership.
“I really enjoy military leadership,” Mazzulla said. “I learn from it a lot. I think it’s important, so any chance that we’ll get to do it, we’ll try.”
In Other News...
Celtics Rookies Suddenly Have A Real Shot To Help Early
Chris Cenac Jr. and Dillon Mitchell are getting an unusual kind of early runway in Celtics camp, with both rookies plugged into a tailored development program designed to sharpen the specific skills Boston believes will matter most. For Cenac, the emphasis is on three-point shooting and rim protection, while Mitchell is working on his shooting mechanics and getting used to the teams pace. It is the kind of individualized approach the Celtics have long favored, especially with young players who need time to translate talent into something usable.
What makes the setup more interesting is that both rookies are also spending time learning from veteran teammates, which can accelerate the adjustment from prospect to contributor. Boston is not asking them to do everything at once, but the focus on shooting, shot blocking and physical play suggests the door is at least cracked open for them to help sooner than expected. For a team that values depth and flexibility, that kind of progress can matter quickly if either rookie starts turning practice work into real minutes. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Brown Adds Another Awkward Twist To His Post Celtics Saga
Jaylen Browns summer has already taken on a strange life of its own, and the latest twist came courtesy of a playful 76ers bit rather than anything on the court. Philadelphia ran a Stop the timer prank, asking players to stop a stopwatch at exactly three seconds, only for them to be shown a pre-saved screenshot instead. Brown appeared confident at first before realizing he had been set up, then laughed it off, another reminder that even in a lighter setting, the conversation around him keeps circling back to his new surroundings.
For Boston fans still getting used to the idea of Brown wearing a different uniform, the scene adds another odd layer to a post-Celtics chapter that already feels unusual. Brown was dealt from Boston to Philadelphia and arrives off a strong previous season, so there is real basketball weight behind all the offbeat moments. The prank itself is harmless enough, but it also underscores how closely watched his adjustment will be, with every public appearance offering a fresh glimpse of how the next phase is going. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Face A Payton Pritchard Decision That Could Change Everything
With Jaylen Brown gone, the Celtics have to rethink where their offense is coming from next season, and Payton Pritchard has moved from trusted reserve to possible answer in the starting lineup. Boston already knows what he can do in spurts, and his previous work as a starter gives the front office and coaching staff a real data point as they map out how to keep Jayson Tatum supported without leaning too heavily on one creator.
What makes the decision tricky is the ripple effect. Pritchards promotion would change the shape of the backcourt, alter the role of the backup point guard and leave the bench scoring mix looking different at a time when Boston can least afford to lose production in spots. It is the kind of move that could sharpen the Celtics offense, but it also asks them to sacrifice some of the depth that has helped define them. [Read more 🡒]