The LA Lakers had a pretty busy offseason, trading for Dennis Schroder and signing Wesley Matthews, Montrezl Harrell, and Marc Gasol as free agents.
Perhaps, their most important move was the contracts they signed with their two stars.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis re-committed to the Lakers, James for 2 years and $85 million, and Davis for 5-years, $190 million. Not only does it give the franchise and its fans some peace of mind, but it also ensures they stay on the competitive map for years to come.
Or, as The Athletic’s Bill Oram put it, it might have ensured they are title contenders for the rest of the decade.
Thursday’s news should ensure that the Lakers will continue to enjoy the best years of Davis’ career while also giving the franchise a bridge to whatever lays beyond this stage of James’ career. LeBron’s new contract expires in 2022-23. Davis will remain under team control for at least one year beyond that. That means the Lakers could find themselves with another slot for a max-level player going into the 2023 season, just in time for the Lakers to pair a new superstar with Davis for more championship runs.
What happened on Thursday may have just ensured the Lakers will remain title contenders for this entire decade.
Davis, 27, is already one of the best players in the game. Last season, the first with the Purple and Gold, he averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game on 50% shooting. He was the key component to their title run, often leading them to wins with his play on both ends of the floor.
With his future now secured in Los Angeles for at least the next four years (with a player option on the fifth), he has also become the face of their future. As LeBron James continues to age, it will be AD who carries the torch. If the Lakers can add support and talent around him that fits, it could be years before they fall off.
Who knows how many titles they can win in the meantime?
