Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Picture by Amanda Loman/Getty Photos)
The brand new-look Celtics are nearer than ever to an 18th title
Los Angeles Lakers large man Anthony Davis had a profession 2022–23 season and can be anticipated to play an more and more larger function subsequent season. In any case, Lakers celebrity LeBron James will flip 39 in the course of the 2023–24 season and already confirmed indicators of slowing down in the course of the playoffs. With lots driving on Davis, the Lakers simply determined to present him a significant vote of confidence by signing him to an enormous 3-year, $186 million extension.
Doing so will lock him up till the 2027–28 season, making certain that the Lakers could have a star to construct round post-LeBron. That may be all effectively and good, however Los Angeles ignored a number of large pink flags to present Davis a historic contract extension. For starters, Davis has missed a mean of 20 video games a season over his 11-year profession, plus he can be 35 by the ultimate 12 months of his contract extension and can be paid as a lot as $67 million.
The Lakers danger repeating the identical mistake with Anthony Davis.
It’s true that the wage cap is about to start out spiking as soon as the NBA’s tv contract expires subsequent 12 months, however paying that a lot for an injury-prone heart in his 30s is a recipe for catastrophe. The Lakers haven’t had an excellent monitor report of extending their stars of their 30s, most notably once they gave Kobe Bryant a two-year extension price $50 million close to the top of his profession.
That hampered their capacity to construct round Kobe, and historical past might repeat itself with Davis. If Davis fails to dwell as much as his contract, Los Angeles might quickly remorse it, particularly with the brand new collective bargaining settlement concentrating on groups like them that overspend. In addition they received’t have many draft picks remaining after giving up many of the ones they’d left to get off Russell Westbrook’s ugly contract. Who’s to say they received’t must do the identical with Davis?
In the end, it doesn’t matter what, they may nonetheless want Davis to play effectively if the Lakers hope to win a championship. Be that as it might, time will inform whether or not Davis’ new deal will work out.
Immediate Grade: D
Revealed on 08/04/2023 at 6:00 PM EDTLast up to date on 08/04/2023 at 6:00 PM EDT
