When Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon during the Celtics’ playoff exit against the New York Knicks, the outlook for Boston took a significant shift. The organization is committed to ensuring that Tatum fully recovers without any pressure.

Brad Stevens, Boston’s president of basketball operations, reported that Tatum is making good progress post-surgery. However, he was clear in stating that the team is not setting a return timetable for the All-Star, emphasizing the importance of a complete recovery:

“We don’t and we won’t. We won’t put a projected timeline on him for a long, long time. … It’s baby steps right now. He’s actually progressed great, but I don’t know what that means in regard to projected timelines. But that will be in consultation with him … and everybody else to make sure when he hits the court he is fully ready, and fully healthy. And that will be the priority.”

Tatum is likely to miss a significant amount of the upcoming season, leading to strategic roster changes, including the trades of key players Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday to manage the team’s salary cap.

Stevens noted that All-Star Jaylen Brown is back to practicing lightly following his knee surgery and is expected to be in good shape before training camp begins.

For the Celtics, managing Tatum’s injury comes at a critical time when the organization must balance its payroll against the need for operational flexibility. Stevens remarked:

“We knew this was coming. This isn’t a huge surprise. … The biggest thing for us is making sure that we balance that, maximizing what we can with regard to what we bring back so we can continue to build and grow.”

With Tatum’s absence, the Celtics face a pivotal moment as they plot their strategies for the season ahead.