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Celtics rumors: Why Chris Haynes still believes Jayson Tatum will return this season
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- Celtics rumors: Why Chris Haynes still believes Jayson Tatum will return this season
The post Celtics rumors: Why Chris Haynes still believes Jayson Tatum will return this season appeared first on ClutchPoints .
Much has been made about Jayson Tatum 's Achilles injury and his potential return, with the initial expectation being that he would sit out the entire 2025-26 NBA season. However, recent updates have been more optimistic, with many expecting him to be back at some point during the campaign.
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Chris Haynes is one of them, as he explained how Tatum is likely to return to play during the regular season .
"Based off of what he texted me, I think we will see him at some point during the regular season. He told me he is working out three times per week, 45-minute sessions. He said he is 23 weeks out from when he underwent surgery and he's feeling good," he explained on NBA TV.
However, does that mean a return during the season is likely? Haynes claimed that that is exactly what the Celtics' talisman is targeting .
"He's posted videos of him being able to explore off of that leg. So I asked him myself, 'you really trying to come back this season?' And basically he is like, 'I am not putting in all this work for nothing,'" he explained.
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In his absence, the Celtics have responded with a bit of a fire sale, with the likes of Jrue Holiday , Al Horford , and Kristaps Porzingis all being traded to save on luxury tax and salary. The Celtics are reported to save around $300 million due to their offseason moves.
Jaylen Brown , Derrick White and Payton Pritchard will carry larger scoring and creation loads after averaging 22.2, 16.4, and 14.3 points last season. The key additions have been Anfernee Simons , Chris Boucher and Luka Garza , with Simons profiling as the only proven high-volume scorer among them.
Regardless, while Tatum may have a chance to return this season, all signs currently point to the Celtics being in no rush.
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