Lakers star Anthony Davis declined a four-year, $146 million max extension Tuesday so he can become an unrestricted free agent in July, two people with knowledge of the offer told USA TODAY Sports. They were granted anonymity because the team has not announced the news.
The Lakers viewed this move as a mere formality. They maintain optimism Davis will re-sign with them for a maximum five-year, $202 million offer, a person familiar with the organization’s thinking told USA TODAY Sports. The person, who was granted anonymity because the team hasn’t confirmed the news publicly, said the Lakers still found it necessary to offer Davis the extension on the first day they could.
The reason? The Lakers wanted to make Davis feel valued after acquiring him last summer in a trade with New Orleans.
Davis, who also plans to decline a player option in June that would pay him $28.7 million next season, wants to focus on his quest to help the Lakers win their 17th NBA championship and their first in 10 years.
Though Davis has not formally decided on his future, he declined the Lakers’ extension offer because he can land a more lucrative deal this summer. He is set to make $50 million more by doing so as opposed to signing the Lakers’ extension or ultimately joining another team.
With the Lakers (29-7) hosting the New York Knicks (10-26) on Tuesday at Staples Center, Davis had no interest in revisiting whether he considered the Knicks as a possibility when he asked for the New Orleans Pelicans to trade him last season.
“That was something that I thought about in the past. I’m kind of just over the whole situation,” Davis said following morning shoot-around. “Not just the Knicks, but the entire past. Just trying to get here and just focus on everything with the Lakers.”
