Jayson Tatum Draws Comparison Between New Celtics Addition and Hall of Fame LA Trade
Before the Los Angeles Lakers’ surprising 114-105 victory over the Boston Celtics on the road, Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum made notable remarks about his team. Boston has been exceptional throughout the season, establishing themselves as the top team in the league.
The duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown has once again demonstrated dominance, proving to be a perfect combination this season. During the offseason, Boston added several pieces that Tatum believes were missing.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Tatum recently discussed the addition of big man Kristaps Porzingis, likening the trade for him to the Lakers’ acquisition of Pau Gasol years ago.
While Tatum’s perspective is understandable, Gasol was a significantly better player than Porzingis. Gasol also held the role of the second-best player on the Lakers, whereas Porzingis might rank third or fourth on any given night.
When the Lakers obtained Gasol, they were in dire need of another star to complement Bryant, especially considering their lack of playoff success in previous years.
In contrast, Boston has recently reached the NBA Finals and came close last season as well. While adding Porzingis can certainly bolster their lineup, the Celtics were already a successful team in their own right.
Tatum likely views Porzingis as the missing piece to elevate the team further, but comparing his acquisition to Gasol’s trade seems a bit exaggerated. Despite Boston’s impressive performance this season, they possess a well-rounded team overall.
Tatum has always admired Bryant, but his comparison may have missed the mark in this instance.
