Celtics Notebook: C's pick up option on Jayson Tatum, some regulars will sit in preseason finale

One of the easiest decisions the Celtics' front office will make this October got done on Monday, according to a report from Shams Charania of Stadium, as the team picked up Jayson Tatum's $9.9 million player option for the 2020-21 season. This will be the fourth and final year of Tatum's rookie deal before he hits the restricted free agent market in 2021, unless the wing comes to terms with Boston next summer on an extension.

The C's had over two weeks (October 31st) to pick up the option officially and traditionally waited until the days before any deadline to pick up an option. However, in perhaps a nod to Tatum's standing on the roster, the team went through the maneuver well ahead of time. Robert Williams will also have his $2 million option picked up in the coming weeks ahead of the deadline for the third year of his rookie deal, which is the last rookie contract option the C's front office for this month. Negotiations will continue with Jaylen Brown in the coming week, who recently hired agent representation in the form of Jason Glushon to see if terms can be reached on a rookie extension. Sources familiar with the situation indicate that both sides remain far apart on a striking a deal ahead of the October 21st deadline.

Starters get a break

With the team's third preseason game in five days upcoming on Tuesday night in Cleveland, Brad Stevens will use the opportunity to give his starters some downtime and get a longer look at the end of his bench ahead of some tough cuts later this week. Romeo Langford (bruised knee) will not be on that list however after suffering an injury during the C's win on Sunday. Tatum will also be sidelined due to illness.

"Tatum was sick today, so we'll leave him back,” Brad Stevens told reporters Monday. "Other than that, everybody practiced except Romeo. Romeo's sore today, as to be expected. Not playing tomorrow. I haven’t gotten anything like two weeks, three weeks — I haven’t gotten any timeline on it. I just know not tomorrow.”

With Tatum out and likely other regulars such as Gordon Hayward, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart getting a breather after playing all three preseason, there should be ample opportunity for the coaching staff to get a closer look at some end of the bench battles, including Max Strus and Javonte Green, along with new center Vincent Poirier. 

“It'll be some of the guys that played a little bit less the last few games...We do have, I think, five practices before our first game. It gives you a chance to clean up stuff you need to clean up,” said Stevens. "If you want to add something for your opponents that are coming up, you can do that. You've got all kinds of flexibility with that."

Walker already appreciating reduced role already

It's been a quiet preseason for the All-Star addition in a Celtics uniform as the point guard is just averaging 11 points per game while only attempting 6.5 shots in each contest. That's a far cry from his last year in Charlotte when the 29-year-old was putting up nearly 20 attempts a game but that's a workload that the 6-foot guard is happy to see reduced in green.

“It takes a lot of pressure off me,” Walker said. "I’m getting a lot of different shots as well, but I’m loving it, not having to do so much all the time. Hopefully my usage rate might be going down a little bit. It allows other guys to make plays and I can appreciate that for sure.”

Walker had a career season in 2018-19 by averaging nearly 26 points per game but he won't miss the offensive onus that the Hornets' lack of talent left him carrying on a nightly basis.

"We just have so much talent around us. And just not having to do so much. I’ve done a lot over the course of my career. So, yeah (I won't mind),” Walker told reporters.