New Orleans Pelicans: How Anthony Davis Lost $24 Million

Feb 21, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates after making a three point shot during the fourth quarter of the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pelicans defeated the Pistons 111-106. Mandatory Credit: Leon Halip-USA TODAY Sports

How New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis lost out on $24 million

The NBA released their choices for the 2015-16 All-NBA teams and Anthony Davis was on none of them. This means that Anthony Davis is losing out on a $24 million contract bonus.

According to Oregonlive.com’s, Mike Richman:

"“The ‘Rose Rule’ clause, named for Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, allows teams to sign one “designated player” to an extension which includes a larger percentage of the salary cap and higher annual raises if the player either wins the MVP award, gets voted as a starter to two All-Star teams or makes two All-NBA teams during his rookie contract.”"

ESPN’s, Mike Schwartz:

"“It states that a player with zero to six years of experience (who are eligible for a maximum salary worth 25 percent of the cap) can earn the salary of a player with seven to nine years of experience (30 percent of the cap) by meeting any one of these criteria, per the collective bargaining agreement:– The player is named twice to the All-NBA first, second, or third team– The player is voted in twice as an All-Star starter– The player is designated once as NBA MVP.”"

All-NBA 1st Team

Name	Team	1^st Team Votes	2^nd Team Votes	3^rd Team Votes
L. James	Cavaliers	125	4	—
K. Leonard	Spurs	94	35	—
S. Curry	Warriors	129	—	—
R. Westbrook	Thunder	120	9	—
D. Jordan	Clippers	39	36	14

All-NBA 2nd Team

Name	Team	1^st Team Votes	2^nd Team Votes	3^rd Team Votes
K. Durant	Thunder	36	90	2
D. Green	Warriors	40	74	9
D. Cousins	Kings	32	28	33
C. Paul	Clippers	8	101	10
D. Lillard	Trail Blazers	—	48	73

All-NBA 3rd Team

Name	Team	1^st Team Votes	2^nd Team Votes	3^rd Team Votes
P. George	Pacers	—	28	73
L. Aldridge	Spurs	3	11	55
A. Drummond	Pistons	13	26	30
K. Thompson	Warriors	—	37	53
K. Lowry	Raptors	—	35	55

Damian Lillard, who made All-NBA 2nd Team in 2015-16 and All-NBA 3rd Team in 2014-15, qualified this year for the ‘Rose Rule’. Lillard now qualifies to make thirty percent of the salary cap as his max contract.

The Trail Blazers and Lillard agreed to 27.5 percent instead of the max 30 percent.

As shown above, according to ESPN, depending on where the salary cap ends up Lillard could have the highest paid long term contract in NBA history surpassing Kobe Bryant‘s 2004-05 deal.

Anthony Davis, who was scheduled to make $124.5 million over a 5 year period, lost out on making $148.9 million, roughly $5 million more per season for all five years.

What does this mean for the New Orleans Pelicans, though?

With this year’s free agency booming with some well-known all-star caliber names, New Orleans now has $24 million that they don’t have to spend on AD that they can now spend acquiring talent to put around AD, especially after finishing 30-52 this season.

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It will be interesting to see how the New Orleans Pelicans can use this extra money that was due to Davis to better the team around him.