When Jayson Tatum signed a maximum-salary rookie scale extension with the Celtics in 2020, the deal included a “Rose Rule” clause that allowed him to increase the potential overall value of the contract. Tatum’s starting salary on his extension in 2021/22 would be 30% of the cap if he made an All-NBA team in 2021, or 25% of the cap if he didn’t.
If Tatum had earned an All-NBA spot last season, his five-year contract would’ve been worth $195.6MM. However, he narrowly missed out, receiving the most votes of an player who didn’t make the cut (and more votes than one player who did, at another position). As a result, his five-year deal is worth $163MM.
Appearing on J.J. Redick’s The Old Man and The Three podcast (video clip), Tatum questioned the process that cost him more than $32MM, explaining that he became frustrated reading articles and listening to podcasts where media members made and explained their All-NBA selections.
“I specifically remember one (voter) saying, ‘I’m not a fan of his shot selection, so I just couldn’t put him on my All-NBA ballot,'” Tatum said. “And I was baffled. The fact that somebody could have thought and basically cost someone $30 million dollars… Forget about me, say the next rookie extension guys that come in. I think that has to change.
“Because there’s no criteria set for the voters on who should they vote for. It’s all opinion-based. There’s no, like, ‘He should have to play this many games’ or ‘They should be in the playoffs’ or ‘Average this many points.’ It’s all, ‘Well, I like this guy a little bit more’ or certain things like that, and I think there’s just a little too much on the line for that.”
The NBA’s Rose Rule allows players coming off their rookie scale contracts to qualify for a maximum salary worth 30% of the cap instead of 25%, while the Designated Veteran rule allows players with more years of NBA experience to qualify for a max worth 35% of the cap instead of 30%. These rules are what we refer to when we talk about a player qualifying for a “super-max” contract.
In each case, the player must make an All-NBA team (or win a Defensive Player of the Year award) in either the most recent season or in two of the three most recent seasons in order to be eligible for the higher maximum salary.
Tatum made the All-NBA team in his third NBA season in 2019/20, then signed his rookie scale extension prior to his fourth season. However, because his extension didn’t go into effect until his fifth year in the NBA, he needed to make an All-NBA team again in year four in order to qualify for the “super-max.” That didn’t happen.
In his conversation with Redick, Tatum acknowledged that having to “settle” for $163MM instead of $195.6MM shouldn’t earn him any sympathy and insisted he’s not upset specifically about that.
“I think the narrative was, ‘Jayson didn’t make All-NBA, he loses $30 million,'” Tatum said. “And from that headline, nobody’s going to feel bad for me. I still got $175 million, nobody’s going to feel bad, and I don’t want anybody to feel bad about the money part. My lifestyle hasn’t changed, it’s not about that.
“I think just as the results came out and I looked at how people voted, what went into the media members’ process of voting, that was the frustrating part.”
Meanwhile, I’m stil as poor as ever :D
Only you can change that
Did you make an all NBA team?
I did. It was good.
He has a lot of growing up to do. His terrible shot selection is exactly why he did not deserve to be on that team.
That’s not really the point…
Perfect example of the bias Tatum was referring too
Agreed.
Instead of discussing the issue that he brings up, some people just get online and personally attack him because “I don’t like him for some subjective reason even though I don’t know him.”
Is it bias? Not liking a guy repeatedly taking long contested 2s or his love for holding onto the ball and a poor passing game aren’t just stylistic or aesthetic preferences. They are things that have overwhelming statistical evidence that show they are not conducive to winning.
If we want to follow this line of logic, I think it is bias to prefer good defenders for the All Defense team.
With all the advanced analytics swimming around one could statistically quantify what constitutes good defense. Wouldn’t be difficult. A player either meets an objective goal or he doesn’t.
When it comes to accolades with contractual bonuses attached lets use numbers (stats) to decide on the numbers (dollars) a player might receive based on contracual incentives. Eliminates subjective opinions from outside “voters” influencing a player’s financial earnings.
And yes, get rid of fan voting for All-Star selections or do away with contractual incentives based on selection.
I don’t think it is just numbers that show that taking long contested 2s doesn’t lead to winning. Go get film of him taking just those shots and you will see it is a long video with a lot of misses.
He signed a contract that allows for the subjective views of outside voters and there has to be a line somewhere, does it suck for him sure, but does bad shot selection lead to a worse overall team also sure…I’m all for players gettin as much money as possible but to Monday morning quarterback it is so easy, he went into the season knowing he was subject to all nba voters, he went into the season knowing his own weaknesses, he was fine with it then, don’t make your own situation and then feel victimized by that situation, that’s for little children
clearly you didn’t listen to the podcast he’s upset about that but his main reasoning was he didn’t make an all NBA team because some people voted him as a guard. But if you watch the Celtics play he clearly plays forward and on every team he is a forward. The problem is because some voted him as a guard it split his votes between guard and forward and you can’t combine the two. But if he did he would have made it as a forward. But its also pretty telling about the people who vote on this listing him as a guard instead of a forward.
Don’t believe for a moment that this isn’t about the money. Everything Tatum does is about him and the money.
How do you know this? You have a personal relationship with him that gives you these insights?
They don’t play basketball for free. I’m sure if another team offers him more money in free agency he’d leave. So yes its always about the money.
As would you…
Your point? That people change jobs for more money? Ok, we all concede that if you are offered more money you are probably taking that job.
How is that any different from anyone else in our Corporate Capitalist society?
Also if you work for a living, what is one of the big (if not the biggest) reasons you go to work?
If he is a little upset over the money, wouldn’t you be as well if enough people voted to keep you from getting a bonus? Especially if their reasons were subjective and not pertaining to an objective goal you did or did not meet through your own effort?
I agree with Tatum here, I think it’s ludicrous that if one of my supervisors don’t think I smile enough but the others all think I’m great I can lose a significant part of my annual performance bonus and raise.
I have zero problem with him being disappointed for failing to add another $30M to his contract. But this comes off as whining about a vote which wasn’t that close for the position he plays — it wasn’t just one vote, it was a 20 point (22.5%) differential. So Tatum is basically saying, I deserved to be on the team in place of Paul George even though George had 20 more votes. No, I don’t know Tatum, but I think this was about the money.
I agree that money is involved with his gripe and I was specifically questioning socalbum on the part of his statement: “Everything Tatum does is about him and the money.”.
Also, I don’t think he’s arguing that he deserved it more than PG13, just that he doesn’t approve of the subjective criteria used by some voters. I think he’s arguing for clear objectives to reach certain rewards and accolades.
We all go to work for money. I love my job but I can’t eat if I don’t get paid for my production.
Along with 95% of the NBA
Tatum is spot on with this. Same type of voters keep Bonds and Clemens out of HOF but allow Ortiz in.
There needs to be objectives established for players to achieve to earn bonus money or accolades.
Not to start this argument but exactly what did David Ortiz do? Is there any actual evidence of steroid use?
Didnt Bonds admit to using steroids in his deposition?
No, there is no proof or any confirmation with Ortiz. A suspected failed test that got leaked by media but was never proven. Exact opposite for Bonds and Clemens.
Ortiz did pop positive in 2003. Bonds/Clemens on the other hand have never
The opposite. Ortiz tested positive in the sample before baseball implemented testing. Bonds never did, and didn’t admit to it. Not to say he didn’t do it, but he was charged with making a false statement in his deposition.
Nah. Electing candidates without reference to objective criteria is as American as apple pie
Super max was always a bad idea, and this is perhaps an ancillary reason why; but only for those who don’t understand who wanted this rule and for what purpose.
Distinctions between players under this rule wasn’t ever intended to be based on their relative merits as players, but the team’s perceived need for leverage in getting them to sign an early extension. For that purpose, it actually does matter when the guy got his All NBA status. Jokic was first team All NBA the year prior to his extension, and was ineligible because he was a 2nd round pick. Guys who only ascend to All NBA after year 5, or MVP even, are also ineligible for a raise at that point.
Why not let the players decide who’s on the all NBA team. This would be more accurate than the writers.
Wouldn’t work. Too many personal beefs. You think Ben Simmons would vote Embiid for All NBA even though he is deserving of it up to this point?
This is one of many examples I am sure. The NBA is a workplace and we all know how the social atmosphere of any work environment is and how bad it can be.
Kinda late to be questioning the contract he signed two years later..
I don’t think he regrets signing the contract, that was not the point of his statements…
18 teams will be at the salary cap before fielding a full roster next year and 8 Teams are above the luxury tax next year without a full roster.
There’s what 34 guys on a max contract now? Only going to keep increasing.
Max contract and then supermax will be a problem sooner than later.
Looks like our young, almost superstar, Jayson Tatum has a good head on his shoulders!
Thanks parents!
Go Celtics!
Be quiet, Tatum. Your awful shooting already costed the team some games. It’s all about you. Grow up. 30 million must be like 30 dollars to you. Continue this and you will never be a star. Your team lost an embarrassing home loss to the Pistons. Ummm
That loss to Detroit showed how much we need TimeLord!
Besides his ally-oop offense, tips in, offensive rebounds & kick out passes, I hear on defense TimeLord is the Rudy Gobert of the East.
Blocks a bundle of shots, intimidates lots more and even holds down our opponents’ 3-point shooting percentage with his quickness & length!
Detroit made 16 threes & shot 53% from three & got 18 offensive rebounds. To our 2!
Get well TimeLord! Go Celtics!
He has a valid argument, but he’ll be fine if he keeps getting better. Endorsement money will offset the losses.
The fact of the matter is that Tatum didn’t deserve to make that All-NBA team in his year 4. There were better options at the 3 / 4 than Tatum to vote for, but I fully understand and agree with his complaints. Writers shouldn’t have the ‘power’ to determine a player’s salary, especially when we are talking about 10’s of millions of dollars. They need to change that rule.
Couldn’t agree more with everything you said Dorothy_Mantooth
No he’s upset at it because some people voted him as a guard instead of a forward. So he lost votes because they consider him a guard and you can’t combine the votes. If they combined the votes he would have made it as a forward.
Well. He’s right that it’s a dumb system. But it’s a dumb system he chose to sign off on 2 years ago. If he didn’t like it he could have just said no.
And as a Celtics fan his shot selection really is bad at times. He definitely should be an all star though.
wah, wah, wah can’t survive off 160mill?? trade him and rebuild with players who care about the team first…he would fit in well with the Lakers
I don’t find it clear what it is he wants. I thought he was disturbed by the size of the gap but nobody seems to agree.
If so, they would say the gap should or should not be reduced. Instead, the talk is about the selection process, which every year and every sport has critics, regardless.
Speaking of… I suspect he does not get the concept of shot selection. Shooting is probably all about “feeling it” to him. Feel good, take it. Questioning the feel is bad luck, etc. He thinks ·Don’t they get that·?
The smart players are heard saying ·such n such is good, he knows how to find his shots·. This philosophy is also more reliable, and relatable to teammates in adjusting to him.