What's next for Jayson Tatum? How Celtics superstar injuries make future feel uncertain originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Celtics didn't expect to end the season the same way they started it: With Jayson Tatum not playing due to injury.It wasn't the Achilles this time, but the reality was the same. They didn't have Tatum, and that cost them.Tatum missed Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday with knee stiffness. He had exited Game 6 in the third quarter and ended up not playing again.The Celtics could've won without him, but not enough shots fell, and so they're heading home.MORE:Joel Embiid, injuries and all, overcomes Game 7 demonsIt ends up being an odd season for Tatum, who rehabbed all the way back from his torn Achilles only to be felled by a different ailment when Boston needed him most.It sends the Celtics superstar into an odd offseason.MORE:How Celtics were doomed by 3-point shootingWhat's next for Jayson Tatum?The first reality to state is obvious: Tatum isn't going anywhere.He's the face of the Celtics, and he and Jaylen Brown will hope for redemption next season.The good news for Tatum is that he should get a healthy offseason this time around. After last season's torn Achilles in the playoffs, Tatum was in full-on rehab mode.Now, once whatever this knee issue is subsides, Tatum can get in the lab and work on growing his game.MORE:Evan Mobley's crucial mistake sums up his careerThe Celtics don't necessarily need to remodel their roster. They seemed formidable this year, and that was even with Tatum shaking the rust off.They can improve around the edges, but expect this painful ending for Tatum to serve as quality motivation.It's safe to plan on the Celtics being back and better in 2026-27. That should scare the rest of the Eastern Conference.More NBA news:Bronny James just did something Michael Jordan never didCavs' legacies, futures may have all changed on one bounceBrandon Ingram injury creates a big dilemmaThings aren't going well for Donovan Mitchell