As reported earlier this week by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Lakers star Anthony Davis will exercise the player option on his contract this offseason to ink a fresh deal with the reigning league Champions.
Sources: Anthony Davis plans to opt out of contract and re-sign with the Lakers.
Inside Pass on Davis, Lakers/Heat offseasons and more across league at @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/P5YRf3Fbzb
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 15, 2020
While the terms of his new arrangement with the Lakers have not been set, there is a belief that it will take form as a two-year deal that includes a player option.
Most NBA executives, who are not authorized to speak publicly on Davis’ situation, believe the seven-time All-Star forward’s best course is to opt out and sign a two-year deal with the Lakers that includes a player option for the second season.
As an unrestricted free agent, Davis will have all the leverage in contract talks, meaning it will ultimately be up to him to decide where, how long, and for how much he plays. And while he’s guaranteed to get his money, there are reasons why a short-term, two-year deal may be the best option for the 27-year-old big man.
Most NBA executives, who are not authorized to speak publicly on Davis’ situation, believe the seven-time All-Star forward’s best course is to opt out and sign a two-year deal with the Lakers that includes a player option for the second season.
If he did that, Davis would become a free agent the same time as LeBron James following the 2021-22 season. When that might happen is unknown since the NBA and players’ union has to negotiate when the new 2020-21 season will begin, including the free-agency period.
Davis also has the option of signing a five-year extension if he opts out. That contract could start at about $40 million per season, but not knowing where the salary cap will be set because of the financial impacts of the pandemic probably means he would not sign a long-term deal.
With uncertainty about the future of the NBA’s salary cap and uncertainty regarding where the Lakers will be once LeBron James is ready to leave, it wouldn’t make much sense for Davis to sign a long-term contract at this point.
Whether that means he’s set on eventually leaving L.A. is anyone’s best guess, but at least Lakers fans can rest in peace tonight knowing they’ll likely have Davis for at least the next few years.
