Anthony Davis is opting out of the final year of his contract worth $28.7 million. Though most are hardly surprised with the move, the understanding that this is part of a bigger plan by the purple and gold. The only question up in the air right now is how much the 27-year-old center will be getting and how long it would be.
Davis is expected to be pitched a more lucrative deal soon by the Lakers, NBA.com reported. Details of that new pact are likely to be known by Friday once free agency transactions are allowed. The NBA is expected to lift the transaction moratorium by Monday.
Davis is likely to get something a whole lot higher than the $28.7 million he would have made in his final year with the Lakers. After wrapping up the first year of his tenure with the Lakers, it made little sense to think that the 6-foto-10 center would jump ship and move to another team.
Anthony Davis has declined his $28.7 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/Nuat0CxN06 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 16, 2020
The seven-time All-Star played a big role in the Lakers 2019-20 campaign. In the regular season, he averaged 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 blocks in 62 regular-season games.
Davis would improve on those numbers in the NBA playoffs with 27.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.4 blocks. But most will remember the top pick of the 2012 NBA Draft as the guy provided help and, at times, step up for head coach Frank Vogel. He is someone that the Lakers will not let go off so easily.
Until the new deal comes out, the questions up in the air are how long will Davis new deal be? It could be a short or long term deal that will cost the Lakers a lot of money.
A long-term deal would be to the advantage of the Lakers if they can pull it off. This means that Davis will remain in Hollywood for possibly at most four-years. This would allow Los Angeles to build around him, possibly get more players to the fold.
Davis could also opt for a short-term deal and position himself alongside LeBron James' plans. The contract of James is good until 2022 but the 35-year-old star could always opt-out next season. If he does, he could negotiate for a new and richer deal from there, CBS Sports reported.
With Davis and James still around, the Lakers should be favorites once again next NBA season. But the question there is how long will this tandem last – especially with James not getting any younger.
