Jaren Jackson Jr. lost out on an extra $200 million after missing All-NBA team

Jaren Jackson Jr. lost out on an extra $200 million after missing All-NBA team

The All-NBA teams were announced last week, and you could point to multiple seasons where at least one player either lost–or, conversely, gained–millions based on their selection (or omission).

Players who earn All-NBA selections with 4-6 years of experience can be eligible to make 30 percent of the cap for max contracts (compared to 25 percent, by virtue of the Derrick Rose rule); players with 7-9 years of experience can become supermax eligible if they make it, meaning they could sign max contracts worth up to 35 percent of the cap (compared to 30 percent), typically only alotted to players with 10 years of experience.

Grizzlies star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was that player, losing out on nearly double his current salary ($105 million) after not making the final cut last week.

Jackson, 25, averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game last season, shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from 3-point range on 5.3 triple tries per game. The 6-foot-10 forward finished 17th in All-NBA voting, earning 52 third-place votes with one second-place vote. He was 13 points away from tying James Harden, who earned the 15th-and-final All-NBA nod.

Assuming he made All-NBA, Jackson, now with seven years of experience, would’ve been eligible for a five-year, $345 million extension, starting at $59.5 million. But since the final year of his contract is $23.4 million, he’s only eligible to sign a four-year, $147 million extension, starting at $32.8 million, this summer.

Jackson wouldn’t have to sign the new deal. He can bet on himself and try to make his first All-NBA selection–or win DPOY, another way to trigger supermax eligibility–next season. If he doesn’t, he could still re-sign for a deal up to nearly $300 million (five years), which is far more than he could currently make. Whether Memphis is willing to back up the truck for him is a different conversation, however.

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The Grizzlies could also re-negotiate the final year of his contract before extending him, though that requires cap space that they don’t currently have. According to Spotrac, they’re currently $41 million in the hole, but that would mean they would have to renounce Luke Kennard, Santi Aldama and others. That doesn’t seem worth it.

This is a tricky summer for Jackson. What would you do in his situation? Let us know in the comments!

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