In a development that was as unsurprising as Hillary Clinton announcing she was running for President, the New Orleans Pelicans (why can’t they just be the New Orleans Jazz? or Brass?) are expected to offer Anthony Davis a maximum contract extension this summer, per ESPN’s Marc Stein:
With star forward Anthony Davis eligible for a contract extension this summer, Pelicans officials plan to be as aggressive as possible in presenting him with a maximum five-year deal that could exceed $140 million, according to league sources.
A day after the Pelicans were mercifully swept by the Golden State Warriors, the timing of the news draws attention away from the team’s problems against the top-seeded Warriors in the opening round sweep. It doesn’t even allow Davis time to process what just happened in the series, where he joined an exclusive trio — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bob McAdoo — as the only players in NBA history to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in their first four playoff games.
Davis won’t have too much time to dwell on his team as the team prepares to offer him a contract extension when the Free Agency period begins July 1.
A new TV-rights deal with Turner (TNT) and Disney (ESPN/ABC) that goes into effect before the 2016-17 season, and the NBPA’s unwillingness to indulge in any “cap smoothing” once the money floods in, means the salary cap is likely to skyrocket in the coming seasons. Some estimates say the cap could jump from its current level — $63.2 million — to $67.1 million next season, $89 million in 2016-17 and $100 million by the 2017-2018 campaign.
Davis will also likely benefit from another Chicago native, Derrick Rose. The “5th Year 30% Max,” AKA the “Derrick Rose Rule” stipulation in the current collective bargaining agreement allows for teams to dedicate thirty percent of their cap to their Designated Player if that player reaches certain performance-based benchmarks after their first four years in the league. Davis will likely be eligible, and he could be looking at a five-year deal — remember, New Orleans is the only team who can offer him that fifth year — that’s over $140 million.
A player can have the Derrick Rose rule applied to their contract before they’ve fulfilled the fourth year — like James Harden did in his deal with Houston, and Davis would being doing if he re-signs this summer (between July 1 and October 31). If the player then fails to reach those performance incentives, they’re relegated to the standard 25 percent increase — the maximum allowable for players who have been in the league for 0-6 years.
The rationale for the Pelicans to keep Davis is simple: he’s already one of the top five players in the NBA. He just had one of the greatest seasons in league history and has the NBA record for PER (player efficiency rating) at the ages of 19, 20 and 21 years of age — his first three years in the league. He already has a great nickname, the Brow, and he only turned 22 in March this year. Let me repeat: he’s 22!
But it might make sense for Davis to also wait until next summer when the cap will again jump. That would also make him available to other teams (sans the fifth year). If Davis hits the open market, he will be one of the biggest free agents the NBA has seen since LeBron last summer and Kevin Durant next summer. Considering the current instability of New Orleans ownership and some of the shortcomings with the roster and the coach, it’s smart the Pelicans are trying to lock up Davis for the next half-decade, which will take him into the first years of his prime.
(ESPN)
