In the NBA business, the value of loyalty has diminished, as the stars of the game attempt to leverage all their resources to win a championship.? A similar instance happened when Jayson Tatum tried to recruit Damian Lillard to his team in the off-season.
The Boston Celtics forward was on the lookout to enhance the quality of his team with his attempt to lure in Lillard. But it looks like a far-fetched dream after reports claiming Dame’s dream of playing for the Miami Heat came to light. Soon after the efforts resulted in failure, Tatum was seen hanging out with a $90 million Chicago Bulls star.
The enigmatic life of Jayson Tatum
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In the Sports By Northwest podcast. NBA journalist Marc Spears revealed Tatum called Lillard to lure him to Boston. Reportedly, it failed as the Portland Trail Blazers star only wanted to join the Heat out of his love for the team’s culture. It made the saga interesting, taking into account the dynamic these two NBA teams share.
Tatum had to swallow a tough defeat last season in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics were on the verge of reaching the NBA finals back to back but lost to the Heat in a close finish to the 7-game series. Thus, the 33-year-old Blazers talisman teaming up with direct rivals was a source of concern behind his futile attempt.
Soon after his plans went in vain, the 25-year-old was seen chilling with a fellow NBA All-Star. He posted an image of him alongside Bulls star DeMar DeRozan, which stirred more controversy. The shooting guard with a net worth of $90 million was enjoying his time with the 4-time All-Star as the latter captioned it, “My dawg.”
Jayson Tatum and Demar DeRozan on Instagram🔥 pic.twitter.com/TEW6Fx7KTo
— CelticsMuse (@CelticsMuse) August 31, 2023
The sudden display of a close bond with DeRozan in this off-season raised a few eyebrows. Whether it was Tatum’s intentional attempt to shift the noise in a different direction was up for debate. One thing leads to another, and this gave rise to another question.
What if DeMar DeRozan joins the Celtics?
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The future of the 34-year-old in Chicago is under question as his trade rumors start to gain momentum. In the midst of this, his time with Tatum could become a source of worry for the competitors.
Some of the biggest teams in the league are actively chasing the 6-time All-Star, so a deal would not be easy. But if the Eastern Conference finalists get to sign him, they increase their chances of going all the way this time around.
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No one can predict what the future holds. From Tatum’s failed attempt on Lillard to DeMar’s unknown future, the trade talks are heating up as the NBA fans gear up for yet another enthralling season.