So if we keep Tatum, will he be our starting PF (eventually)?

[chambers]

Is Tatum an NBA SF or PF?

He played the PF at Duke, is he big enough to play the 4 in the NBA or will he play the SF and put some muscle on?
I mean he'll put weight on at either position but I wonder what the plan is with him.

Maybe he try him out at both spots and see where he shines?

[KGBirdBias]

Good point. I hate to say this but i think Ainge has to think about Griffin or Ibaka over Hayward.

If he doesn't want to pay big money, he could make this move.

AB, Crowder for Derrick Favors.

Favors is in the last year of his contract and will be a FA next year. He's at $11M.

He then can sign his teammate Hayward and the Celtics save about $3M on the deal.

[Chris22]

Is Tatum an NBA SF or PF?

He played the PF at Duke, is he big enough to play the 4 in the NBA or will he play the SF and put some muscle on?
I mean he'll put weight on at either position but I wonder what the plan is with him.

Maybe he try him out at both spots and see where he shines?

I think that depends on who he can defend.

[iadera]

Good point. I hate to say this but i think Ainge has to think about Griffin or Ibaka over Hayward.

If he doesn't want to pay big money, he could make this move.

AB, Crowder for Derrick Favors.

Favors is in the last year of his contract and will be a FA next year. He's at $11M.

He then can sign his teammate Hayward and the Celtics save about $3M on the deal.

Exactly! Tatum seems like hell of a player, with possibly big role already in rookie season. We ain't got Fultz, it's a fact, but Tatum could be the best player of the draft at the end.
Considering this, Griffin should be first target.

[Who]

I see Tatum as a SF primarily who can play some PF. He looks more comfortable attacking his defenders and playing defense against smaller players rather than bigger guys. More effective when he has the size advantage. Can use that mid-post & isolation game on offense. And use that extra size / length to compensate for so-so quickness on defense.

[Tr1boy]

Is Tatum an NBA SF or PF?

He played the PF at Duke, is he big enough to play the 4 in the NBA or will he play the SF and put some muscle on?
I mean he'll put weight on at either position but I wonder what the plan is with him.

Maybe he try him out at both spots and see where he shines?

Depending on matchup and how much he can improve on explosiveness/footwork for defense (to guard wings) and how much mass he can add (vs pfs)

At the nba level against sfs or wings... Like a jaylen brown

Tatum has to stay with him, chase him around screens

Vs the draymond green or tristamt thompsons needs to box them out

[obnoxiousmime]

Instead of using the "starting" and "PF" labels, you should be asking "will Tatum eventually be one of the wing players who will be playing 30+ minutes/game eventually for us?" The answer is yes, otherwise he wasn't worth the 3rd overall pick or all the deals Danny turned down before the draft for that pick.

[Surferdad]

Short answer:  Yes.

I just don't think getting Griffin (or Favors in that proposed trade) is too likely.  Ibaka is a possibility but you get what you pay for.   

[chambers]

Instead of using the "starting" and "PF" labels, you should be asking "will Tatum eventually be one of the wing players who will be playing 30+ minutes/game eventually for us?" The answer is yes, otherwise he wasn't worth the 3rd overall pick or all the deals Danny turned down before the draft for that pick.

So if we are playing the Warriors or Cavs, who would Tatum guard? (if he were in his prime).
I don't care so much about his offense because his offense is good at both spots.

I worry about him being too small to play PF but not athletic enough to guard small forwards like Durant or Lebron. (Or elite small forwards like them in 4 years time).

[KGBirdBias]

Stevens will have a ton of flexibility with the ability to switch on defense in pick and rolls.

Tatum is better offensively than Brown. He can break down a defense and go get a bucket. Look at early film of Paul George with they had Granger.

Tatum has all the pro moves...step back, fade away, blow by, hesitation dribble. I would throwaway positions when you have wings like we have now.

Summer league should be fun to watch.

[Tr1boy]

Tatum needs to work on his whole body obviously but his lower half/legs ...look like need extra work to balance out his broad shoulders

Not worried about his ability to add upper body muscle.

[The Oracle]

Short answer:  Yes.

I just don't think getting Griffin (or Favors in that proposed trade) is too likely.  Ibaka is a possibility but you get what you pay for.   

Shorter answer: No. 

Can you imagine him trying to defend Draymond Green or Kevin Love???

[Surferdad]

Short answer:  Yes.

I just don't think getting Griffin (or Favors in that proposed trade) is too likely.  Ibaka is a possibility but you get what you pay for.   

Shorter answer: No. 

Can you imagine him trying to defend Draymond Green or Kevin Love???

So you wanna keep Jae Crowder?  What's your plan?

[BlackCeltic]

Short answer:  Yes.

I just don't think getting Griffin (or Favors in that proposed trade) is too likely.  Ibaka is a possibility but you get what you pay for.   

Shorter answer: No. 

Can you imagine him trying to defend Draymond Green or Kevin Love???

Can you imagine Love trying to defend Tatum?

[The Oracle]

Short answer:  Yes.

I just don't think getting Griffin (or Favors in that proposed trade) is too likely.  Ibaka is a possibility but you get what you pay for.   

Shorter answer: No. 

Can you imagine him trying to defend Draymond Green or Kevin Love???

So you wanna keep Jae Crowder?  What's your plan?

Crowder has no business starting at PF either.  Small ball has never been as effective for the C's, let alone against starting units.  I don't have the numbers in front of me but Crowder was something like +2 points per 48 minutes at PF and something like +9 points per 48 at SF last year during the regular season.

Olynyk will start at PF if someone like Griffin is not brought in.