As expected, Los Angeles Lakers power forward Anthony Davis will opt out of his contract and then re-sign with the team this offseason, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The reported move is something Bobby Marks of ESPN suggested earlier this week would happen — with the only mystery being the length of Davis’ next contract.
“He’s not going elsewhere,” Marks said during an appearance on SportsCenter.
Davis and the Lakers are coming off a championship in his first season in LA. He has a player option on his contract for $28.8 million.
Marks said it only makes sense for Davis to opt out.
“This is more of a financial decision,” Marks said. “He can earn $32.7 million in the first year he re-signs, with the Lakers.”
More pressing as far as the Lakers are concerned will be the length of the contract.
“But I think the one thing to look at will be the length of the contract,” Marks said. “Will it be a two-year deal, or five-year deal? If Davis goes the short-term route, that would put him in free agency in 2022. And all that money he left on the table from New Orleans with the super-max, he could earn all that back.”
As Marks noted, LeBron James‘ current contract is set to expire in 2022, when James is 37-years old.
Davis did briefly address his free agency following the Lakers’ championship win over the Miami Heat.
“I had a great time in LA this first year. This has been nothing but joy, nothing but amazement,” he said. “Over the next couple of months, we’ll figure it out. I mean, I’m not 100% sure, but that’s why my agent (Rich Paul) is who he is, and we’ll discuss it and figure it out.”
Davis was outstanding in his first year next to James, averaging 26.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 blocks in 62 regular season games. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and sixth overall in the MVP race.
