NBA Rumors: Davis Thumbs Down Extension But Expected To Stay With Lakers

KEY POINTS

Anthony Davis declines contract extension but is expected to remain in Hollywood
Davis could choose a three-year contract similar to Kawhi Leonard
Davis can opt for a long-term deal which would pay him $205 million for five years

Anthony Davis is focusing on winning an NBA title this season and it appears the Los Angeles Lakers are well on their way to doing that. Regardless, that did not stop the 26-year-old from declining a four-year contract extension which would have paid him $146 million.

Thumbing down that deal does not mean that Davis is leaving Hollywood. Rather, the decision is more about the amount of money he can make this summer. Though he will become an unrestricted free agent, the top pick of the 2012 NBA Draft is expected to remain a Laker. So the better question is how much and how long his next deal will be?

As pointed out by Bill Oram of The Athletic, Davis will have plenty of options this summer. But the most enticing one he is likely to pursue is a three-year deal similar to what Kawhi Leonard got with the Los Angeles Clippers. The third year of that package would be a player option - something Davis is likely to decline for bigger money once more.

There is also the possibility that Davis could go for a long-term deal. This would be a five-year contract where he could earn about $205 million. He and agent Rich Paul are likely weighing their options to see which deal moving forward would be rewarding in the monetary sense.

As far as the team is concerned, it appears that Davis and LeBron James have fit in well. Unlike in past teams, everything seems smooth sailing. But of course, it will be interesting if this would stick come the NBA playoffs. The Lakers know that winning the Western Conference title will not be easy. The Clippers, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz stand in the way plus more.

X-rays on Anthony Davis' lower back came back negative, according to his agent Rich Paul. Davis, is sore though, per Paul.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 8, 2020

This season, Davis is averaging 27.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.6 blocked shots. He recently suffered a bad fall against the New York Knicks but X-rays returned negative, ESPN reported. However, he is remains questionable in their next game against the Mavs. The Lakers are on a six-game winning streak after losing four straight games back in December.