Tatum ignoring trade noise: I want to spend whole career with Celtics

Jayson Tatum certainly has heard his name floating around as a potential trade chip for the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics have been one of the most frequently mentioned potential suitors for Anthony Davis, and most believe Boston would need to part ways with its 20-year-old forward if it hopes to land the New Orleans Pelicans superstar.

That hasn't been lost on Tatum, and though the Feb. 7 trade deadline has passed, this summer presents another opportunity for those rumors to arise again.

"You start to understand this is a business," Tatum told ESPN's Sage Steele. "I play basketball. I've just got to control what I can control, but I love being on the Celtics. I want to play there my whole career."

Tatum's trade value is two-pronged: he continues to impress with the Celtics, as he's averaging 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game in his second season, and his contract won't hit eight digits until his next extension begins after the 2020-21 season.

"You can feel the tension in the air. Everybody's looking at their phone," Tatum added. "There's a lot of media talk, rumors, and things like that. So it's kind of hard (to know) what to believe, so I try to block out outside noise as much as possible."

Only six Celtics have played at least 10 seasons while never suiting up for another franchise. All six eventually found themselves enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame: