The Boston Celtics' season ended prematurely and disappointingly as the team flamed out in the second round against the New York Knicks. More devastating than the early exit was Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles, which will have lasting consequences on the franchise.
As the Celtics face a financial cliff, forcing GM Brad Stevens to make tough offseason decisions, Tatum's injury isn't the only one they need to worry about. Jaylen Brown was playing through a partially torn meniscus in his right knee down the stretch. Even though he was able to continue playing, he was battling significant knee pain.
On Saturday, Brown provided the latest update on his injury to Noa Dalzell of the CelticsBlog. Speaking at his 741 Performance pop-up, where he revealed his new White Noise sneakers, Brown didn't give the most optimistic outlook on his knee.
"l got a lot of doctors I gotta get evaluated with — see the potential for surgery versus no surgery, wait to speak to the [Celtics] organization. For now, it’s just rest and recovery. I’m taking a step back from a long season. Mentally, it was a lot of stuff going on."Jaylen Brown
While emphasizing the need for rest and recovery, Brown didn't rule out offseason surgery. He said that he needs further evaluation on his knee, but surgery to repair the torn meniscus remains on the table as an option.
This was in minor contrast to what Stevens said earlier in the week, calling Brown's knee in a good place, structurally.
Perhaps Brown will feel better after some rest, and the doctors will not opt for surgery. However, the situation is a delicate one that could have lingering effects on the Celtics All-Star and the future of the franchise.
The Celtics are mulling their offseason options, with Brown remaining a trade candidate, along with everyone on the roster outside of Tatum. How this injury update impacts that decision remains to be seen.
