Anthony Davis helped the Los Angeles Lakers to turn things around in the midseason. Thanks to the front office activities right before the February trade deadline, the team found some much-needed balance. However, problems kept coming up with injuries to key players, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Many experts advise the Lakers not to extend his contract because he is too high maintenance. The biggest trouble with Anthony Davis is his delicate health.
In the current decade, AD has barely managed to play more than 60 games a season. Sometimes it feels too risky to make Anthony Davis play more than 45 minutes a game. Moreover, he prefers another big man alongside him to take pressure off him. Despite these issues with Anthony Davis, Dave McMenamin of ESPN feels the Lakers will extend his contract before the training camp begins.
Should Lakers Extend The Contract Of Anthony Davis In The Current Offseason?
According to the ESPN Analyst, the Lakers see Anthony Davis as someone who has represented them well over the years. On The Lowe Post podcast, Mcmenamin mentioned that irrespective of the contract kind, the front office and AD will have a certain discussion about a contract extension this offseason. It can depend on the amount of money or the duration of the term. The concerned people, including Rob Pelinka, Jeanie Buss, and Rich Paul, will figure things out. Moreover, McMenamin suggests there is no one better to suit to combine than Davis with LeBron James.
Now, LeBron James is heading toward his 21st season in the league. Hence, the contract between LeBron and the Lakers is in the end stage. In such a situation, McMenamin feels it is not ideal to add pressure on themselves with Anthony Davis too heading toward a free agency. Hence, it is only ideal to come up with a certain deal before the new season begins. Moreover, the ESPN Analyst feels they will reach a deal of extension before the training camp.
AD Transformed The Lakers Into The Best Defensive Side Of 2022-23
Anthony Davis helped the Los Angeles Lakers become the best defensive side of the season. Clearly, the eight-time All-Star was spearheading the team’s offense. Meantime, he was the anchor of the Laker’s defense. That’s how Davis transformed the Lakers from the 13th seed to the conference finalist in 2023. Moreover, AD has already won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. Hence, it is easy to understand how much Rob Pelinka and the front office rely on AD for the team’s future. However, Davis has one more year in his current contract with the Lakers.
The 2022-23 season has been very challenging for the 17-time champions. AD missed twenty games on the trot after suffering from a stress injury since last December. Later, LeBron James suffered a tendon injury on his right foot and missed several games for a month. But the two stars of the team returned from injuries to lead the Lakers to the Western Conference Finals. On their way, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the second-seed Memphis Grizzlies and, later, the then-defending champions, Golden State Warriors, in Round 1&2, respectively.