Not even a minute into free agency, and one of the biggest superstars in the game today has already signed a new deal with his respective team.
Forward Anthony Davis has agreed to a five-year, $145 million contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports. Davis’ contract will have an Early Termination Option (ETO) for year 4, which could make Davis a free agent again in 2020. Though, Davis took it to Twitter to confirm that he will remain with the team for the next six years.
Last year, Davis averaged career-highs across the board, putting in 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals on 53.5 percent shooting from the field. Davis led the league in shot blocking and finished fourth in scoring.
He led the Pelicans to their first playoff appearance since 2011 and averaged a league-high 31.5 point during the postseason in four games.
The Pelicans have tremendous belief in Davis, as they continue to reconstruct a team around the young stud. Davis is already ranked a top-five player in the league, and he is just in the beginning stages of his career.
The big man improved his jumper and leadership skills this past season after spending the summer playing for Team USA and winning a gold medal. He has had minor injury issues throughout his young career, but Davis was at his healthiest last season, playing in 68 games. It's no secret that his potential is through the roof, and he is ready to continue to lead the Pelicans to multiple playoff runs.
With Davis now locked up for potentially the next six years, the Pelicans will need to lock up their free-agent big man Omer Asik next. Asik is an unrestricted free agent, and his stock dropped during the playoffs when he averaged 2.0 points and 7.3 rebounds.
However, during the season, the duo of Davis and Asik were terrific defensively. Either the Pelicans will need to work to re-sign Asik or find another defensive big to compliment Anthony Davis.