Torrey Craig: Jayson Tatum in good spirits?

With the Boston Celtics looking to trim their books while $22.74 million over the second apron, $34.62 million over the first apron, and $42.32 million over the luxury tax amid the loss of franchise star Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles, rival NBA executives looking for center depth are monitoring Al Horford and Luke Kornet heavily. -via HoopsHype / June 16, 2025

Wilkins said he did not lose a step after the rehabilitation process. In the season after the Achilles’ tear, he played in 71 of 82 games and his offensive numbers were similar to his numbers pre-injury. Yet, the primary difference in Wilkins’s game was his improved 3-point shooting. After shooting 29 percent in the season he was injured, Wilkins boosted his percentage to 38 and he attempted more threes than in his previous two years. “I thought I would lose something but I came back a better and more all-around player,” he said. “That was because of the work I put in and I wanted to prove all the doubters wrong. I learned how to play the game more on the ground. When you have an injury like that, it forces you to go to other aspects of the game to be as effective. I put other things in my game so one guy still wasn’t going to guard me.” -via Boston Globe / June 15, 2025

That was 32 years ago and technology has changed in Achilles’ rehab, but Wilkins said there is a common thread between now and then: work ethic. “That injury is a serious injury,” Wilkins told the Globe this week. “And Jayson had the same type of injury I had, meaning he had a complete tear because there is no way you could walk off the floor. That’s a devastating injury but the thing is the work he puts in is going to determine what he gets out of it. “I worked twice a day every day for nine months and came back quicker than anybody. But it was my level of commitment and Jayson is a kid that loves the game and I have a lot of respect and am a fan of his. I have no doubt that he’s going to put in the work to get back to the same level he was.” -via Boston Globe / June 15, 2025

Torrey Craig said he has confidence that the Celtics can contend even without their leading scorer, rebounder, and playmaker next season. “It’s a great group of guys, obviously, the situation matters, but I feel like even without JT, this team could still compete for a championship,” Craig said. “They’re talented. You just have to find a way to play basketball a little differently. But this group is way more capable. I have the utmost confidence.” -via Celtics Blog / May 27, 2025

If the opportunity presented itself, Craig would love to be back in Boston, he told CelticsBlog after the Celtics’ playoff elimination earlier this month. “I love everything about Boston,” Craig said. “If it was available, then I would see myself coming back.” Craig said that the opportunity to be a part of a championship-caliber team is one he’ll always cherish. “Just being around the guys that previously won the championship – just seeing how they operate, how together they were, just being a part of the Celtic culture,” he said. “That was a cool experience for me.” -via Celtics Blog / May 27, 2025

Craig, 34, is set to be a free agent this summer after spending the past few months with the Celtics. The future is uncertain for not just Craig but also for the Celtics, but the wing spoke about potentially re-signing with Boston. “I guess we’ll cross that path when we get there,“ Craig told MassLive after the C’s lost to the Knicks in Game 6. ”I have to sit down with my representatives, my agents and talk things through and see the options. But I wouldn’t mind re-signing here.” -via Booth Newspapers / May 21, 2025