Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the NBA and, after six seasons of high-level individual success, it is almost strange to consider that the former No. 1 overall pick is only 25 years old. With that as the backdrop, Davis’ future is often the center of hypothetical discussion in basketball circles, as he displays the rare combination of youth and skill that would make him attractive to any NBA franchise.
As a result, any change in his professional status is sure to draw attention and, on Saturday morning, Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reported that Davis will be changing agents.
The report indicates that Davis has already elected to forego the services of Thad Foucher, who previously represented him, and the headliner in this case is that ESPN brings word that Rich Paul of Klutch Sports is “a leading contender” to take over in representing Davis.
For the moment, there isn’t much Davis can do from a contractual standpoint, as he is locked in for the next two seasons with more than $52 million in guaranteed salary. From there, though, Davis has a $28.8 million player option for the 2020-21 season and, perhaps more intriguingly, the Pelicans can offer their franchise centerpiece the “designated veteran player extension” during the summer of 2019 if they choose to do so.
There is very little reason to believe that New Orleans would not present that offer to Davis, giving the All-NBA big man the opportunity to lock in more than $200 million by committing to the Pelicans. Still, a player of the stature of Davis might want to seek greener pastures if he feels that the Pelicans cannot credibly compete for a championship, making the 2018-19 season a very important one in New Orleans.
The presence of Rich Paul, who famously represents and partners with LeBron James, might make things even more interesting, simply because he is arguably the most famous agent in the NBA at this juncture and that might put a spotlight on things. Again, Davis is under contract for two more seasons but, as is evident in today’s landscape, players can force the hand of their employers by seeking a trade, and the Kawhi Leonard situation (with only one year on his contract) is a perfect recent example.
In some ways, it feels as if Davis and the Pelicans are in a comfortable place at the moment and that could ease the mind of New Orleans fans. Things could get noisy in the (very) near future, however, if Davis decides he wants to leave. If he does, he might be represented by a high-powered agent with ties to the best player on the planet.
