Jayson Tatum reportedly ‘shocked’ by Celtics’ sale announcement

Count Jayson Tatum among the many others who were surprised to see the Celtics’ ownership group announce plans to sell its shares of the team. 

Tatum was “shocked” to learn of lead owner Wyc Grousbeck’s plans to sell his stake of the Celtics, according to Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix. Tatum, who spoke to Mannix at his JT Elite camp in Las Vegas, also touched on the topic of a new ownership group taking the helm of the franchise within the next few years. 

“As to the next owner, Tatum says he “hopes the foundation and structure doesn’t change … what we built what we have, it’s a great thing. I don’t want things to change,” Mannix reported on X.

News of Grousbeck and the Celtics’ ownership group’s decision to sell the team was a shocking development — hitting just two weeks after Boston won its record-setting 18th championship.

While a sale could be completed as early as 2024, the expectation is that Grousbeck and Boston’s primary leadership will remain in place for the next few years.

“The managing board of the ownership group expects to sell a majority interest in 2024 or early 2025, with the balance closing in 2028, and expects Wyc Grousbeck to remain as the Governor of the team until the second closing in 2028,” the Celtics noted in a statement announcing the pending sale. 

The Celtics’ ownership group is set to pay a steep price for retaining nearly its full roster for the upcoming 2024-25 season. 

Boston currently is on the hook for the two most expensive contracts in NBA history in Tatum (five years, $315 million) and Jaylen Brown (five years, $285 million), while Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis will account for an annual salary of over $30 million apiece next season. 

Add in Derrick White’s new four-year extension (four years, $125 million) set to take effect in 2025, and the Celtics are going to be paying a premium to keep this stacked lineup intact — especially when factoring in luxury tax penalties.