Jayson Tatum admits he’s tried recruiting Bradley Beal to Celtics: ‘We’ve talked about it plenty of times’

Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal lost the opportunity to play together for Team USA over the summer when Beal tested positive for COVID-19 before the Olympics began. The news was likely especially disappointing considering the background that the two Eastern Conference stars share. Both grew up in St. Louis, an area not typically known as a basketball hotbed, but with Beal set to hit free agency this offseason, there have been rumblings about the two of them seeking a longer-term partnership. 

Typically, players will deny such discussions, but Tatum didn’t bother with that formality this weekend. According to Abby Chin of NBC Sports Boston, Tatum freely admitted that he has spoken to Beal about uniting. 

“Yeah. We’ve talked about it plenty of times,” Tatum said. “I think, moreso, just thinking about how cool it would be to play with him. Just how we grew up and how close we are. It’s something I’ve always dreamed about. We didn’t get the opportunity with the USA team, but we did get to play with each other in the All-Star Game last year which was a special moment. You know what I mean. Just, like playing in the NBA with your big brother. Who wouldn’t want to do that?”

So how does Beal feel about these overtures? “There’s a lot that goes into that. Obviously,” Tatum explained. “And there’s decisions that he would have to make, what’s best for his family. The idea of it we both like the idea of it for sure.”

Boston initially appeared set to have the cap space to pursue Beal as a free agent, but after extending Marcus Smart, Robert Williams and Josh Richardson, signing Beal outright is likely a pipe dream. The Celtics could still pursue Beal through either an in-season trade or a sign-and-trade in the offseason, but Washington’s cooperation would be needed in either case. The 5-1 Wizards don’t look like they’re in any rush to initiate a rebuild. 

But superstars tend to get what superstars want. If Beal ultimately decides that he wants to play with Tatum, he’s probably going to wind up playing with Tatum. Until the ink dries on a contract extension, anything is possible for Beal’s future. Even afterward, top players routinely force trades with multiple years left on their contracts. The NBA has increasingly become a league based on superstar partnerships. Beal and Tatum have been friends for years and would seem to be an ideal pairing. Tatum himself seems to agree, and that should make Boston one of the leading contenders should Beal ever decide he wants to leave Washington.