http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12769009/new-orleans-pelicans-offer-anthony-davis-maximum-deal NEW ORLEANS -- With star forward Anthony Davis eligible for a contract extension this summer, Pelicans officials plan to be aggressive as possible in presenting him with a maximum five-year deal that could approach $140 million, according to league sources. The exact figures will depend on how much the NBA salary cap actually rises, but sources told ESPN.com that the Pelicans indeed intend to present Davis with the biggest offer they can once the window for negotiations opens July 1. The Pelicans would then have until Oct. 31 to convince Davis to sign a five-year deal that makes him their designated player. Davis, 22, just joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bob McAdoo as the only players in league history to average at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in their first four NBA playoff games. The Pelicans' season ended with Saturday night's Game 4 home loss to Golden State, but the Pelicans surprised many pundits by beating the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on the final day of the regular season to clinch a playoff berth ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 45-37 record. Because Davis was elected by the fans to start in February's All-Star Game, and since he is expected to earn All-NBA first-team honors when voting results are announced in the coming days, New Orleans can start his max deal at 30 percent of the league's salary cap as opposed to a mere 25 percent. And thanks to the league's most recent salary cap projections -- which will spike dramatically when money starts flowing in from the NBA's new nine-year, $24 billion TV deal that kicks in starting with the 2016-17 season -- Davis can thus be presented with a five-year pact that will eventually top $30 million annually and potentially approach $140 million in total value. If Davis signs the five-year extension, it would also start in 2016-17 and run through his 28th birthday. Davis, of course, would have the option of signing a shorter extension with the Pelicans to preserve some flexibility in his future options in free agency. -Marc Stein
Weird position to be in. You ask me and I say that he is injury prone. Take the 5 year deal now or wait one and take the 200+? What to do, what to do?
The best option for Davis would be to do a 5 year deal 140+ million with a player option at the end of the first year. Of course, the pelicans would not want to do that as it gives him tremendous flexibility and also the uncertainty of what happens to the pelicans next year that might change him might and bolt the team. If I am NO, I go to Davis and give him a role in every decision that is made and really make him feel like that he has power.
No reason not to take a 1 year deal and then max in 2016. Even IF he gets hurt, someone will offer him the max. He's too talented for some franchise not to take a shot on him.
Anthony Davis will be the best NBA player next season. Pelicans would be so lucky if he accepted that offer.
AD should go to the Knicks or Lakers. NOLA will not win him anything. The NBA is much more compelling when one of those teams is playing well.
As a Rockets fan, I hope he goes east to the Knicks. As an NBA fan, I hope he commits to New Orleans for the rest of his career.
He should be lebron and sign short term deals. It gives him maximum power. Someone will pay him. The only way he doesn't get paid is if he gets his leg amputated or something along that line.
Sign the short deal, and get the extra money once the cap inflates. Make more money and keep options open if the Pels surround him with crap. Teams are gonna be handing out max deals like candy once the cap blows up. Unless his injury is catastrophic he's still gonna command a huge salary.
New Orleans won 45 games this season and made the playoffs despite playing in a brutal division and conference. How'd the Knicks and Lakers do?
awful and keep AD in the east where he will be irrelevant with Lebron and a healthy Chicago(of course he was born in Chicago) team out there.
