Jayson Tatum gives green light for Boston Celtics to hold talks over $78.12million deal…

The Boston Celtics have captured the NBA-record 18th championship in franchise history. After years of questions pertaining to how Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum can coexist at the highest level,  answers were provided in the form of Boston’s second championship of the 21st century.

Unfortunately, the Celtics will now face the same daunting reality as every championship-winning team: Not all players can return the following season.

Boston, thankfully, has an opportunity to keep many of its core players in town. Brown, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis, Tatum, and Derrick White are all signed through at least next season, meaning the opportunity to repeat as champions is viable.

With free agency looming and the unending pursuit of improvement often requiring teams to part ways with key role players, however, not everything will stay the same.

Tatum is eligible for an extension that can kick in as soon as 2025-26, and the Celtics will likely look to make one more splash this summer before they pay nearly $100 million per season to their two franchise players. Furthermore, both Horford and White will be eligible for free agency in 2026.