Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis’ contract situation simmering on back burner

Anthony Davis’ contract situation is currently on the back burner for the Los Angeles Lakers

While currently in the thick of his first deep playoff run, and quite possibly on the verge of winning his first NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, Anthony Davis no doubt has matters of business simmering on the back burners of his mind.

Davis and the Lakers are well on their way to his first championship, and the 17th for the Los Angeles Lakers which will tie them with the Boston Celtics for most all-time. Once the Lakers complete the task at hand against the Miami Heat as many presume they will, the matter of Anthony Davis’ contract will be the main focus of the offseason.

Davis has one year remaining on his current deal which is a player option. Before this mega-successful playoff run down in Orlando, there were some media pundits who were not completely sold on the idea of Davis staying in Los Angeles for the long term.

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During these playoffs, Davis is scoring 29.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game in just over 36 minutes per contest.

Needless to say, Lakers’ faithful will be waiting anxiously in hopes of hearing their newest superstar big man will be staying in the City of Angels for a while. At this point, it isn’t the worry of him opting in or out, it is whether he will opt-in or opt-out in favor of re-signing long term with the Lakers.

Prior to Davis being dealt from New Orleans to LA, there was talk of him wanting to go play in Boston when his deal is up. After this hellacious playoff tear that he’s been on, the likeliness of that happening is slim. If AD opts in on his current deal, he will make $28.75 million in 2021, and then be able to hit the unrestricted free-agent market at season’s end.

If the Lakers do go on to complete their run and win the NBA championship this season, the real question will then become, does Davis re-up for one more season or does he sign a three-year deal with a fourth-year option.

One important factor to remember is that Anthony Davis is a client of Klutch Sports Group, which is run by Rich Paul, who also happens to be a close compadre of Davis’ teammate LeBron James. That relationship will undoubtedly play a big part in what Davis decides and whether he stays long term in LA or not.