Jayson Tatum: 76ers, Knicks 'Gotta Go Through' Celtics After Paul George, Mikal Deals

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum believes the newly crowned NBA champions remain the team to beat in the Eastern Conference despite some rivals making major moves in the summer.

"I mean, it's twofold. Like, I see all the changes in people switching teams and obviously teams is getting better," he said during an interview on Wave Sports + Entertainment's 7PM in Brooklyn. "And that's every offseason. And you got to have like an appropriate fear or respect for your opponent, right? You don't never want to disrespect who you playing. But with that being said, it's like we won. Like, when you win a championship, you get to talk how you want to talk. They gotta go through us."

Just within the Celtics' division, the New York Knicks took their big swing when they sent a haul of draft capital to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges. The Philadelphia 76ers also poached Paul George from the Los Angeles Clippers, fully utilizing the salary cap space they carefully preserved.

Other contenders in the East aren't going anywhere, either. The Milwaukee Bucks should benefit from having star guard Damian Lillard and head coach Doc Rivers for a full offseason. Donovan Mitchell reaffirmed his commitment to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Orlando Magic are on an upward trajectory with their young core centered around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Boston, meanwhile, will open its title defense without Kristaps Porziņģis in all likelihood. The Latvian big man underwent surgery for his leg injury, which could cause him to miss the start of 2024-25.

But Tatum is right in that the Celtics deserve the benefit of the doubt. Porziņģis' situation aside, the roster is pretty much unchanged from the one that beat the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.

Absent another blockbuster transaction that shifts the NBA hierarchy, Boston deserves the right to be the favorite when next year tips off.