Retaining Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to cost $613 million for Celtics

Tatum, Brown, and Morant: All-NBA Teams and Supermax Eligibility in the NBA

Retaining Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to cost $613 million for Celtics

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum (image via Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are now eligible for massive contract extensions after being selected to this season’s All-NBA teams. Tatum, who was named to the All-NBA first team, will be able to sign a five-year, $318 million contract in the upcoming offseason. This summer, Brown, who made the All-NBA second team and is currently in his sixth season of play, will have the opportunity to agree to a five-year, $295 million contract deal.

Tatum’s supermax contract seems to be a done deal, but it’s unclear whether the Celtics will be willing to offer Brown one of the biggest contracts in NBA history. Tatum has been the Celtics’ star player continuously, so it’s possible that the company would prefer to spend the money on someone else rather than Brown.

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Brown, one of the league’s most promising young players, has been a standout for Boston for several seasons. It’s challenging to come up with a guy the Celtics could spend that money on instead of Brown. It will ultimately depend on the team’s perception of Brown’s importance and if they consider him a pillar of their future.

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Tatum and Brown’s supermax eligibility is a credit to their talent and effort, regardless of what the Celtics decide. Both guys are among the greatest young players in the league and have made significant contributions to the Celtics’ recent success.

Related: This Boston Celtics stat proves Jayson Tatum and Co. Are UNFINISHED against 76ers

Ja Morant Misses Out on Supermax

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Ja Morant (image via DAVID BERDING/GETTY IMAGES)

Ja Morant, a star player for the Memphis Grizzlies, was one player this season who did not receive a supermax contract extension. Despite playing in 61 games and averaging 26.2 points, 8.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds, Morant was not selected for any All-NBA teams. Had he been named All-NBA, he would have been eligible for a five-year contract worth up to $233 million.

Given his impressive stats and contribution to the Grizzlies’ success, Morant’s exclusion from the All-NBA teams is surprising. However, his ban following a succession of gun-related events off the court may have played a part in the voting. Voters may have also felt that other guards, such as the Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox and the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard, were more deserving.

If named All-NBA, Jamal Murray, Fred VanVleet, and Pascal Siakam would have also been eligible for the supermax. Although it is regrettable that these players didn’t receive a substantial contract extension, they can still fetch large salaries in the future and remain important members of their teams.

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