​Celtics Predicted to have 17th-Best Player in NBA in 2030 originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It’s always exciting to look toward the future in the sports world.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat’s what Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey did in a new article in which he ranked the 30-best players in the NBA as he sees it playing out in 2030.It’s a particularly compelling discussion as it pertains to the Boston Celtics, who don’t have a ton of talented young players. Their best players feel like they’re in their prime right about now.So do the Celtics feature at all on Bailey’s list?Yep, just one guy, and not really a surprise.Bailey ranks Jayson Tatum as the No. 17 player in the NBA in the year 2030.Tatum will be 33 then, and it seems fair to slot him there.”Tatum is huge for a wing,” Bailey writes. “He can easily shift to power forward if a slight decline in athleticism requires it. And whether he’s there or at the 3, his rebounding, shooting and playmaking will be important. Plus, though he’s not quite on (Jalen) Brunson’s level in terms of craftiness, there is a lot of that to Tatum’s game too. Good burst is important to be able to sell things, but Tatum’s footwork and pump fakes should help him remain effective well into his 30s. Think of it this way. The post-Achilles tear Tatum still has a chance to be something like a souped-up version of Paul Pierce.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: Dillon Mitchell is leveling up already for the CelticsThe Celtics would take a high-quality Tatum four years from now if they can get him. Then, they’ll have to do what they can to continue bulking up the next generation on their roster.The NBA is in good hands — Bailey predicts Victor Wembanyama to be the unquestioned best player in the world in four years.He does have AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer — the top-three picks in this year’s draft — all ranked ahead of Tatum for four years from now, for what it’s worth.The Celtics are hoping to do a lot more winning before worrying about 2030, but it’s a fun thought experiment in which Tatum is still solidly regarded.Latest Celtics newsTD Garden fan guide: What to know before you goComplete history of Celtics championships