AD isn't eligible for the super-max because only the team that can draft you can give it to you. Donovans contract is actually 5 years/$163 million with the potential to make $195 million if he makes any of the all NBA teams every year of the deal. If he makes ANY of the 3 All NBA teams he gets 30% of the Jazz cap instead of the 25% of the normal max the year after making any of the 3 all nba teams. This is another thing the Jazz gave him. De'Aaron Fox has to make FIRST team All NBA to get the 30%. AD is not eligible because he's not with the team that drafted him. Can't get the supermax if you change teams before signing it.
No because AD was a free agent, he has the leverage here, and it's normal when you're a free agent to get a player option. The two situations aren't the same at all, so lets not compare them. Donovan was a restricted free agent.
Donovan was a restricted free agent. Jazz gave him a 15% trade kicker, potential to get 30% super-max money for any all NBA team, and what you say then is "we gave you all this, we don't want a player option on the last year". As a restricted free agent Donovan would have to play out an entire season and the Jazz could match whatever offer sheet he signed and keep him here anyway. He was not turning down a contract worth up to $195 million, the security of not having to worry about injury this season, the trade kicker, and a gold plated contract over a player option. Yes. If you're the team you stick with "no, we are not giving in on a player option". As Hollinger said this was not a negotiation, this is the most lopsided rookie extension ever handed out. So here's my question for you, does Donovan stay for another contract? Does he sign the super-max extension he'll likely be eligible for in 3 and a half years? Do you think Donovan stays in Utah beyond that player option now? If the answer is "yes" then it's fine he got a player option if it made him feel like the Jazz truly treated him like a king with that contract because they did. If the answer is "no" or "probably not" then if you're the Jazz that contract is very lopsided in his favor. Get rid of the trade kicker at minimum. There's no way whatsoever they had to give in on the player option and now you potentially lose the largest super star you've ever had a year earlier than necessary. It gives him leverage to ask for a trade even sooner in the contract. The player option makes him more difficult to trade, the trade kicker makes him much more difficult to trade if he asks for it unless its the destination of his choice. Like you want to talk about a gold plated contract, wrapped in a bow. That's what they gave him, and you better hope the way they treated him here means something to him.