Anthony Davis to EXIT Lakers? LA reportedly ‘reluctant’ to offer superstar guarantees beyond 2024
Reports suggest that the Lakers Front Office is still not ready to offer Anthony Davis a max contract.
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Anthony Davis (NY Post)
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently deliberating whether to extend a maximum contract offer to Anthony Davis, with General Manager Rob Pelinka closely monitoring the situation. As the Lakers work on finalizing their roster for the upcoming season, the decision regarding Davis’s contract remains a crucial factor that will shape their future plans.
Davis unquestionably played a vital role as one of the Lakers’ top players alongside LeBron James throughout the previous season. He is eligible for a maximum three-year contract worth over $170 million. However, in order to secure the maximum contract, he would need to opt out of his $43 million player option for the 2024-25 season. While the Lakers can offer Davis the max deal as early as August 4, recent reports suggest that the management remains uncertain about extending the eight-time NBA All-Star.
The Lakers currently find themselves in a “hard-capped” situation, having already committed around $163 million to their current roster of 13 players. This financial constraint necessitates a cautious approach when considering Anthony Davis’s contract extension.
“They entered the summer with AD on the backburner,” one Western Conference exec told Heavy Sports. “They would like to keep it there, keep that extension on the backburner. They do not need to do it right away. I’d say they’re reluctant and you can understand that at this point.”
Despite Anthony Davis’ impressive performance on the court, averaging 25.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per game last season, the NBA executive has noted that his contract extension may not be solely based on his on-court contributions. Availability has been a persistent concern for Davis, as he appeared in just 56 games last regular season.
“They want to see if (Davis) can stay healthy,” the executive said. “They want to see if this group continues to be what it looked like it could be down the stretch last year. And most of all, they want to see what LeBron does next.”
According to the executive, the Lakers have the option to explore alternative approaches when it comes to Anthony Davis’s contract extension.”You can take a chance and get Davis to extend on something that is not the max, if you get him to sign a deal that recognizes that the market might not be great for a guy so injury-prone, it is a risk worth taking,” the NBA executive added.
Lakers targeting two centers to pair up with Anthony Davis
The Lakers have undergone a complete revamp during the off-season, thanks to the impressive work of General Manager Rob Pelinka. The team’s roster bears little resemblance to the previous year, with notable additions such as Gabe Vincent, Cam Reddish, and Jaxson Hayes. Furthermore, the Lakers made key draft selections, securing Jalen Hood-Schifino as the 17th overall pick in the first round and acquiring Maxwell Lewis as the 40th overall pick in the second round.
As the Lakers aim to finalize their 15-man roster, reports suggest that they are engaged in negotiations with free agents Bismack Biyombo and Christian Wood. Both players operate in the center position, with the Lakers looking to reinforce their frontcourt alongside Anthony Davis.
It is important to note that the Lakers are nearing the luxury tax threshold, which adds an additional consideration to their roster decisions. Signing either Christian Wood or Bismack Biyombo would be a strategic move by Pelinka. However, the success of the team ultimately hinges on the health and availability of Anthony Davis.
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Ritvik Malhotra
(1085 Articles Published)