Anthony Davis has agreed to a five-year max extension with the Pelicans, reports Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowki. His total salary will likely be for around $145 million.
Anthony Davis agrees to 5-year, $145 million maximum extension with Pelicans
The Pelicans secured the services of the league’s best young player for the next six years at what’s expected to be a massive salary.
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The deal will kick in starting with the 2015-16 season, and Davis’ specific maximum number will not be set in stone for next summer. He is expected to be eligible for the Derrick Rose rule criteria that enables him to get 30 percent of the cap in the first year, and he will achieve that benchmark with one more All-Star starter appearance. The salary cap is expected to be around $89 million in 2015-16.
Davis’ deal will have an opt-out clause after the fourth year that will allow him to become a free agent again, per ESPN’s Marc Stein.
Davis has emerged as one of the league’s best players and it was never in doubt that he was going to receive an extension for the maximum allowable. For Davis, that’s 30 percent of the cap, as he’s eligible for a special contract reserved for players who have made an All-NBA team at least twice, the All-Star team as a starter at least twice or were named league MVP. Davis will surely fit that criteria after this season, as he already has one All-NBA and one All-Star team selection.
Davis will have a starting salary of around $26 million, as his extension will kick in just as the cap explodes following the first year of the league’s new television deal. With the cap projected to keep rising, his contract will be fantastic value and should allow the Pelicans plenty of flexibility to surround him with talent.
Davis made the first team All-NBA last season and finished fifth in MVP voting. He averaged 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks during the regular season and led the Pelicans to the playoffs.
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