An unexpected twist has happened with the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Chris Haynes, the Los Angeles Lakers offered Anthony Davis a max contract extension. However, the Lakers have been informed that Davis will decline the offer in favor of entering free agency.
Anthony Davis Rejects Los Angeles Lakers Offer
According to Yahoo Sports, Davis was offered a four-year, $146 million max extension on Tuesday. The two reasons for the early offer were for salary-cap implications and because Davis wants to focus on the 2019-20 NBA Season. He is also expected to decline the $28.7 million player option in the 2020-21 NBA Season.
This allows the six-time NBA All-Star to get a five-year $202 million max contract next summer. This would be a bigger contract than the $146 million four year deal he was offered from the Los Angeles Lakers.
This is not necessarily bad news for Los Angeles Lakers fans. However, they will probably need to pay more money than initially expected in order to keep Davis in Los Angeles as a Laker.
Anthony Davis’ Contribution to the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers really benefited from getting Davis in the off-season. Davis is emerging as both an MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. He has averaged 27.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
There have been some questions about the Lakers supporting casts. This includes their ball-handling off the bench and shooting. However, LeBron James and Davis have been the best 1-2 combo in the NBA, which is proven by their 29-7 record.
The only team with a better record is Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. They are currently leading the NBA Eastern Conference with a record of 32-6.
Most notably is the Los Angeles Lakers’ ability to defeat teams below .500. According to ESPN, they have capitalized on beating weaker teams and are 20-0 for the season. This is in large part because of Davis.
Davis had 40 points and 20 rebounds against the Memphis Grizzlies. This puts him as only the sixth Los Angeles Laker to achieve a 40-20 game. The other five Los Angeles Lakers players to achieve this are all Hall of Famers. This list includes Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and George Mikan.
Davis has helped the Los Angeles Lakers franchise a lot since coming to Los Angeles. He and James have helped turn a franchise that has not been in the NBA playoffs since 2013 into instant championship contenders.
They are currently first in the NBA Western Conference with a 29-7 record. The Los Angeles Lakers are currently four games clear of the Denver Nuggets who are second with a 25-11 record.
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