Unbelievable! The Lakers refused a workout! Congratulations to the max-contract star worth $300 million.

During a recent interview, Tatum shared that the Lakers refused to set up a workout for him when he entered the 2017 draft...

Back in 2017, the Lakers already had Ingram, the 2016 second overall pick and a fellow wing, so their lack of interest in Tatum seemed normal. In the end, they chose guard Lonzo Ball with the second pick at that year’s draft.

Of course, from today’s perspective, the Lakers definitely missed out big time by not taking Tatum. But there are no ifs, and you can’t reverse-engineer the process based on results.

Failing to join the Lakers left Tatum deeply disappointed, and he has held onto that feeling ever since. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. As the third overall pick, he brought his talent to the Celtics, where he received ample attention and development. This allowed him to fulfill his potential and grow into a top-tier star, while also reaping significant rewards—such as the five-year, $315 million supermax extension he signed two years ago.

From 2017 to 2026, over nine seasons, Tatum has never come off the bench in either the regular season or the playoffs while wearing a Celtics jersey. Even after returning from a severe Achilles injury, he was always the undisputed starting cornerstone of the team.

In short, the Celtics’ level of favoritism toward Tatum is something the Lakers might not have been able to match.

However, precisely because of the Celtics’ preference for Tatum, the 2016 third overall pick, Jaylen Brown, has been somewhat marginalized. Even though he averaged an explosive 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1 steal per game this regular season, leading the team to second place in the Eastern Conference mostly as the solo star, and put up 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in this year’s playoffs, he still cannot become the absolute first option for the team.

Recently, Daily Mail Sport reported that Jaylen Brown has listed his Boston mansion for sale, asking for nearly $5 million , which is seen as a potential sign that he might leave the Celtics.

To be honest, there have been quite a few trade rumors surrounding Jaylen Brown this summer, with teams like the Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Pelicans being mentioned as his potential new destinations.