Boston followers could also be annoyed that their group didn’t advance to the NBA Finals — the Celtics beat the defending champion Raptors within the second spherical, whereas the top-seeded Bucks had been cleared out of the trail — however that is nonetheless a group that made strides this season. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown advanced into franchise cornerstones, with Tatum now trying like a No. 1 choice, plus Kemba Walker proved a greater match with this group than Kyrie Irving. Throw in function gamers like Daniel Theis stepping up, and there are causes for optimism even because the East will get higher.

Two issues to anticipate from Boston and group president Danny Ainge this offseason: Paying Tatum the max and watching Gordon Hayward choose up his $34.2 million choice.

There’ll have to be different strikes so as to add depth — they’ve Memphis’ No. 14 choose within the 2020 NBA Draft and two different first-rounders, as chips to make use of — however Tatum and Hayward are the costliest choices.

With Tatum, it appears a no brainer now to supply him a max extension to his rookie contract. He has develop into the alpha for this group, averaging 23.four factors and 7 rebounds a sport this season, even when he realized some exhausting classes this previous week in regards to the calls for of that function deep within the playoffs. Tatum made Third Crew All-NBA this season, which means he’s eligible for 28% of the wage cap, make the group once more subsequent season and that jumps to 30%, which means a max extension value greater than $200 million over 5 years (relying on the place the wage cap is in a yr, one thing no one is certain about).

“I ain’t even thought of that but,” Tatum stated of an extension after Miami eradicated Boston from the postseason. “I used to be simply targeted on this season. Such as you guys know, that’s a course of the entrance workplace and my agent have to speak about it…

“So stuff like that, when it occurs, if it occurs, that’s probably not my concern proper now. I’m not even excited about that. Simply attempting to consider the nice season we had and the nice gamers, nice guys I used to be round. This was a hell of a yr and I loved it and I’m appreciative of everyone. However on the finish of the day, this was enjoyable. I’m probably not excited about the opposite stuff proper now.”

With Hayward, the thrill across the league is he’ll choose up his participant choice for $34.2 million.

This is also fairly apparent. Whereas Hayward confirmed flashes of being the All-Star participant he was earlier than his devastating leg harm, and versatile wing gamers are in demand across the league, there’s not something close to $34 million ready for him on the open market. Particularly not in a coronavirus-impacted world the place NBA house owners have taken a monetary hit. Hayward goes to take his cash then see what the demand for his companies seems to be like in 2021 (which seems to be to be a really deep free-agent class).

Boston will make some roster tweaks, however will run again the core of a younger group — Tatum is 22, Brown is 23 — that’s enhancing. A core than made strides this season, however will discover these last steps into contender standing are the hardest ones.

Boston offseason: Provide Tatum max extension; watch Hayward choose up choice initially appeared on NBCSports.com