Jayson Tatum ‘shocked’ by Celtics’ plans to sell team

Jayson Tatum has reportedly received a record $314 million contract extension from the Boston Celtics, hours after the team’s owners announced their intention to sell the franchise on Monday.

A little over 24 hours after the news, Tatum revealed a “shocked” reaction. Less than a month ago, Boston celebrated its record-breaking 18th NBA title, accomplishing the feat the owners set for themselves last offseason, and with an unprecedented regular-season and playoff run.

“What we’ve built, what we have, it’s a good thing. I don’t want things to change,” Tatum said Tuesday at his JT Elite Camp in Las Vegas, per Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has spared no expense, first acquiring Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. Now, with that duo, plus Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Tatum all locked in multi-year contracts, Boston is on the hook for more than $920 million for the NBA’s most expensive starting five alone.

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That comes with the obvious challenge of managing the luxury tax, which the Celtics have exceeded the past two seasons.

Still, the current ownership group has kept its word. Immediately after beating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Governor Wyc Grousbeck expressed the franchise’s commitment to keeping the roster as is for the 2024-25 season. So far, the Celtics have done just that, retaining 13 of the 15 members of the roster — Oshae Brissett and Svi Mykhailiuk are currently unrestricted free agents.

Tatum must acknowledge that the unpredictability of who will buy the franchise, whether or not TD Garden will be home to the Celtics in the near future and the impact the rumored sale will have on the roster are all legitimate concerns. It took 16 years, including a long-awaited rebuild, for Boston to return to winning ways as an NBA champion, so squandering the start of a potential dynasty would be a major mistake.

Tatum’s latest paycheck keeps the 26-year-old in Boston through 2029-30.