Back in February of 2019, Anthony Davis specifically asked to get traded to the Lakers. A few months later, that request was granted by the Pelicans in what became a huge, offseason deal that changed the game for L.A. basketball.
Of course, there is no guarantee he stays with the team past this offseason because (like it or not) Davis is set to become an unrestricted free agent. So far, he has given no indication he plans on staying with the Lakers long-term but, as explained by Nate Loop of Bleacher Report, it may be his best option — at least, for now.
“If Davis opts in and takes the one-year deal, he would make $28.7 million next season with the Lakers, per Spotrac. Considering how well things have gone in his first season with the Lakers, most expect him to opt out and sign a long-term deal with the franchise. That means at least another year or two with James, who has a player option in 2021. Davis could also test the waters, but with so much uncertainty surrounding the league for the foreseeable future, sticking with the Lakers seems like the safest bet.”
Between COVID-19, the financial implications of quarantine, and the BLM protests, nobody really knows what the future holds in store for the country, much less the NBA. As of now, it seems that (at the very least) the salary cap will see a huge dip, meaning less money for the players.
For now, it seems the best option for anyone is to stay where they’re at. For Davis, that means hanging around in Los Angeles, playing with LeBron James, and enjoying a few more years of relevancy in the Western Conference.
Sounds like a good deal to me…
