Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers intends to opt-out of his $28.7m player option for next season to stay with the NBA champions once free agency opens according to reports.
Davis has a player option in his contract for the 2020-21 season and, per Charania, will reportedly opt-out of that deal when free agency opens.
However, Davis will not be on the market long as he is believed to want to eagerly re-sign with the Lakers. Davis and his agent, Rich Paul, will hold meetings in the coming weeks to discuss contract options.
Since last winter, the plan to opt-out has been virtually known by all as Paul told Sports Illustrated back then (when the star player was still with the New Orleans Pelicans) that his client was “going into free agency” regardless of which team acquired Davis.
In his first season with the Lakers, Davis averaged 26.1 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per game in 62 games, and in the playoffs, he averaged 27.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.2 spg, and 1.4 bpg as the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat in The Finals for the franchise’s first NBA title since 2010.
The former No. 1 overall pick of the 2012 draft was solid in his first Finals, averaging 25.5 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.3 spg and 2.0 bpg as the Lakers won the series 4-2.
When it comes to signing a new deal, Davis will have options in terms of length. It will be up to Davis to decide how long he wants to commit to L.A., and how quickly he wants to be a free agent again.
He could sign a two-year deal with a player option for the second season, a three-year deal with a player option for the third season, or a four-year deal with a player option for the fourth season.
He can also opt to sign with the Lakers again when the next deal finishes, too, if he so chooses.
To put in perspective, the longer that Davis signs for, the more guaranteed money he stands to make. It also could prove a wise move given the uncertainty of the league’s salary cap moving forward due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the league’s bottom line.
Also, given that the Lakers won a title during Davis’ first season in L.A. despite never sniffing the title in his 7-year stay with the New Orleans Pelicans proves attractive for the big forward wanting to stay with the franchise, even though he was non-committal immediately after the Lakers hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy in Orlando.
“I have no idea.” Davis says when asked about his impending free agency
“I had a great time in L.A. this year. It’s been nothing but joy and amazement. Over the next couple of months, we’ll figure it out. I’m not 100 percent sure.”
The budding new friendship with LeBron James has also been a major deciding factor in Davis choosing to remain with the Lakers. Davis and James have built a strong bond both on and off of the court, and that relationship clearly translates to on-court success.
Despite LeBron James being 35 years old, he’s shown he still has a lot in the tank and Davis may very well want to maximise the time that he has to play alongside — and chase more championship rings — with LeBron.
James even reportedly told Davis that the duo has more work to do following their win in the Finals over the Miami Heat. James has two more years on his current contract with the Lakers, with the second year being a player option.
Of course they pay him more
Smart move from Davis anyhow you look at it.
NBA champions pays him more then its cool…