Which circumstance does NOT affect rookie scale contracts?

Rookie scale contracts in the NBA are primarily determined by a variety of factors related to the player's status and the team's financial constraints. The option referring to the end of a player's college eligibility does not affect rookie scale contracts because the contract terms are established by the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement and are based on the player's draft position rather than their eligibility.

When a player is drafted, they are subject to a predetermined rookie salary scale that outlines their compensation based on the number they were selected in the draft, irrespective of their college eligibility status. The other factors mentioned, such as performance metrics, potential trade value, and the team's budget and salary cap, can influence how teams perceive a player and their contract, but are not fundamental to the structure of rookie scale contracts themselves. Thus, while college eligibility is a prerequisite for entering the draft, it does not play a role in determining the specifics of the contract once a player is selected.