Should the Celtics consider a late tank job after Jaylen Brown’s season-ending injury?

Justin Quinn
·2 min read
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After the news of All-Star forward Jaylen Brown‘s season-ending wrist injury, should the Boston Celtics consider a mini-tank job to boost their draft stock? While it might rub the players and their fans alike the wrong way, there’s a compelling case for such a move.

The Celtics are a banged-up squad, having led the league in COVID-related absences in the 2020-21 season with a fair share of lost games to non-COVID injury as well. Kemba Walker has done a great job managing his knee, but wouldn’t it be better to put it under the kind of stress the playoffs require when he has a chance at a deeper run than what we’ve seen from this squad? Robert Williams III’s turf toe may not be a long-term concern, but it will need some time off to get better.

Add to that the team has had precious few minutes for its youngest players, and could really use the burn to see who to keep and who to move as they inevitably consolidate and move on from players once the offseason begins in earnest.

Add in a shot at a lottery pick should the youth movement not have enough to drag the Celtics across the finish line in two consecutive play-in games to boost the offseason warchest or nab a supporting player on the cheap with a dash of keeping core players healthy for next season, and the case is not so easily dismissed.

Ultimately, it will be a decision for the front office and players both to make — but a case could be made that sometimes the best step forward is a temporary step back.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown out for the rest of season with torn wrist ligament