NBA Rumors: Anthony Davis, Gordon Hayward, DeMar DeRozan Face Free Agency Decisions In October
The upcoming NBA free-agent class isn’t considered to be nearly as impressive as the list of players that hit the open market last year, but a few big names could still become available. Anthony Davis, Gordon Hayward and DeMar DeRozan can all opt-out of their contracts before the start of the 2020-2021 season.
If the current season hadn’t been suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, we might already have a decision on the future of those players. Now that the 2020 NBA Finals have been pushed back, so has the start of free agency.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Davis has until Oct. 14 to decide whether or not he’s opting into the final year of his deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. The new date for Hayward and DeRozan is Oct. 17.
Mike Conley and Andre Drummond can also opt-out of their contracts by Oct. 17.
The salary cap for next season has the potential to decrease dramatically in the wake of lost revenue from fewer games and contests without fans in attendance. Players that had intended to become free agents might take the guaranteed money left on their contracts and wait a year to test the open market.
Davis had been viewed as a virtual guarantee to hit free agency, though Los Angeles is the overwhelming favorite to sign him to a max contract. The final year on Davis’ deal is worth $28.75 million.
Hayward is expected to opt-in to the final year of his contract with the Boston Celtics. The forward has only played 108 games in his first three years with Boston. Hayward would earn $34.18 million for the 2020-2021 season by finishing out his contract.
The final year on DeRozan’s contract is worth $27.74 million. The shooting guard is not considered a candidate to sign a max contract if he opts out of his deal with the San Antonio Spurs. When the Toronto Raptors gave DeRozan a $139 million contract in 2016, it was the second-largest deal in league history.
Conley signed the largest contract of all-time four years ago when he inked a $153 million deal. He’s expected to stay with the Utah Jazz for $34.5 million next year.
Drummond can make $28.75 million by staying with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.
The NBA season will resume in Orlando, Florida on July 30 and is scheduled to end no later than Oct. 13.
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