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

[OldSchoolDude]

Tatum will be back up SF behind Hayward if we get him.  He'll be able to play a lot of minutes moving between the 2, 3, & 4.  I doubt he is the PF of the future with two top 5 picks coming in a loaded big man draft. 

[Smokeeye123]

Tatum will be strictly on SF or PF depending on matchups. Brown will guard quicker SF and guards. On offense it doesn't matter.

[Big333223]

Tatum has the height/length to match up with a lot of NBA PF's but he doesn't have the strength. Not yet. At 19 he'll probably still put on weight and play some 4 but for now I think he's a 3.

Of course, when other teams go small, he won't have any problem.

[Ilikesports17]

I think in his physical prime he will easily be able to play both the 3 and the 4.

Where he starts will depend on our roster composition.

[ThePaintedArea]

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???

I can.

He's listed at 210 or less, so he'll need to add some muscle.

But consider these assets:

1) Great footwork, great laterals.  Has good flexible hip joints.

2) Excellent defensive awareness and anticipation. Rapid closeouts, and can use his length - very promising as a weak-side shot-blocker. Quick shoulders, gets his arms up.

3) Gets both blocks and steals.  Good hands, good feet.

4) 6'8" and mixes it up for boards. Defensive rebounding was, I think, the big defensive issue for Boston last year - if he can rebound like a swing rather than a small forward, it'll help him get minutes early on.

[knuckleballer]

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???

I can.

He's listed at 210 or less, so he'll need to add some muscle.

But consider these assets:

1) Great footwork, great laterals.  Has good flexible hip joints.

2) Excellent defensive awareness and anticipation. Rapid closeouts, and can use his length - very promising as a weak-side shot-blocker. Quick shoulders, gets his arms up.

3) Gets both blocks and steals.  Good hands, good feet.

4) 6'8" and mixes it up for boards. Defensive rebounding was, I think, the big defensive issue for Boston last year - if he can rebound like a swing rather than a small forward, it'll help him get minutes early on.

He was listed at 205 a little over a year ago.  He clearly added 10-15 pounds over last summer's Duke weight lifting program.  He has wide shoulders and hips for a basketball player.  Expect him to be 230+ in a couple of years.  He will fit well as a 4 in the current NBA very soon.

[footey]

He will switch back and forth depending on matchups. That is what pumps Stevens up about the pick I'm sure.

[BigDogPitbull]

I see Brown starting at the 2 and Tatum starting at the 3 with Brown guarding the more talented player on the opposing team.

[Tr1boy]

2 things Tatum is elite at (for his height)... Is his ability to create shots (especially from the mid range) and also his ball handling ability. He can go end to end, dipsy doodle around 3-4 players without much fuss. Can dribble comfortably with either hand. Cross over, in and outs , hang dribble

[hwangjini_1]

who will be the pf for the celtics? no one since CBS doesnt run his team that way.

CBS thinks in terms of ball handlers, swings, wings, and bigs.

perhaps you are ask where will tatum play? looks as if he will be a wing, a swing, or both depending upon the particular line up.

[Celtics4ever]

What do mean if we keep him, we picked him and we are keeping him.   I read a lot about teams want to trade up for Jackson, almost nothing about Tatum.  He is our guy now. 

[dreamgreen]

Hard to say, certainly in the future he will play some PF. I think in a traditional starting line up he's a SF who moves to PF in a small ball line up.

[Surferdad]

who will be the pf for the celtics? no one since CBS doesnt run his team that way.

CBS thinks in terms of ball handlers, swings, wings, and bigs.

perhaps you are ask where will tatum play? looks as if he will be a wing, a swing, or both depending upon the particular line up.

Right, he has said that, but I always interpreted that as how he runs the offense.  On defense, he still needs to assign players to match up with the traditional positions of the other team, at least until the switch comes.

[Birdman]

Hope we keep Tatum...I think Tatum and Fox are top 2 players in this draft

[CelticsElite]

It doesn't matter. He's a player who can ball. The NBA is quickly becoming position-less