When Jayson Tatum went down with a ruptured Achilles in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals in May, the expectation was that he'd likely miss the entire 2025-26 season.

That very well could be the case, especially as the Boston Celtics enter a "gap year" with lowered expectations after losing Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and (likely) Al Horford this offseason.

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But is there some chance Tatum turbo-charges his rehab to the point where he's ready to play late in the 2025-26 season? And if he's cleared to play, would the Celtics be willing to put him back in the lineup?

Team president Rich Gotham was posed that hypothetical Thursday at a groundbreaking event for an early childhood educat

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