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Summary

There's no denying that Davis will get a max contract this summer, as he's an All-NBA talent with MVP potential. It would take a catastrophic injury for teams to be unwilling to give Davis a max offer. The only questions depend on if Davis will get a player option on the final year of his contract, a trade bonus, and who he signs with. Given the price that the Lakers paid to trade for Davis, it would be devastating for them if he left in free agency next summer.

Cap Considerations

Davis has a $28.8 million player option for '20'21. If he opts out, Davis will be an unrestricted free agent with a $32.7 million cap hold and full Bird rights. Since Davis will have a large cap hold, the Lakers will not have any cap space unless Davis signs elsewhere. Davis's free agency is pretty simple - the Lakers will offer him the full 5-year, $189.9 million max, and likely also give him an Early Termination Option on the final year, and a 15% trade bonus.

 

Other teams will be able to offer Davis a 4-year, $140.8 million max offer, with a player option and 15% trade bonus. If Davis wants a shorter-term contract, he could sign a 3-year, $106.1 million max with the Lakers with a player option on the third year, allowing him to become a free agent in 2022, when he would be eliglble for the 35% max salary eligible for players with 10+ years of service. He could do the same with another team, signing a 3-year, $103.1 million contract with a player option on the third year.

Potential Teams: Lakers, Heat, Bulls, Rockets, 76ers

Predicted Contract: 3-year, $106.1 million (3rd year player option, 15% trade bonus), with the Lakers

Actual Contract: 5-year, $189.9 million (5th year ETO, 15% trade bonus), with the Lakers.

Davis ended up taking the most secure route and signed the longest deal he could.

Last updated: 12/31/2020

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