What did Boston Celtics executive Danny Ainge see in Jayson Tatum to trade out of the No. 1 spot and draft him No. 3 overall?
Tatum has been on the NBA radar for the better part of five years. He joined the USA Basketball system as a 14-year-old and has been working with renowned NBA trainer Drew Hanlen since he was a youngster. Tatum debuted at No. 1 on the 2017 DraftExpress mock draft when it was first released in April 2016, and his combination of physical tools and talent were never in question.
What has been surprising, though, is how seamlessly the rookie has adjusted to playing within the flow of an NBA offense, looking significantly better than the isolation-heavy, ball-dominant scorer we saw at Duke.
How has he done it, is it sustainable and what does it mean for his long-term potential?