NEWSLETTER
Lakers star big man Anthony Davis is a fan of teasing Chicagoans about the possibility that he could come to his hometown Bulls some day, but candidly, I don’t think anyone really expects him to seriously entertain a dalliance with the Bulls this offseason.
HOWEVER, if it were going to be possible, the first step would be Davis, 26, actually reaching free agency after declining his 2020-21 player option. If he were first extended by the Lakers, well, then, that’s that.
But, to that end, a thing:
Yahoo Sources: Los Angeles Lakers offered Anthony Davis a max contract extension this morning, but they were informed he would be bypassing in favor of entering free-agency. https://t.co/9Ce2A4ePbI pic.twitter.com/ODta1H40Zi
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 7, 2020
To be CRYSTAL DANG CLEAR up front, Davis declining the four-year, $146 million max extension is probably much more about his ability to shoot for a five-year, $202 million max contract in free agency, rather than about him specifically wanting to depart the Lakers. Sure, now he risks injury, but as we saw with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, that isn’t necessarily an issue in the grand scheme of things.
All in all, this is mostly a procedural move. Today was the first day the Lakers were permitted to offer AD an extension following his trade from the Pelicans. They offered, and, as expected, he declined. But it was a necessary step in Davis actually reaching free agency, which would theoretically give the Bulls the teeniest, tiniest chance to woo Davis with … um … hometown pride? To play in the city he’s got tattooed on his arm? They’ve got some time to work up an angle.
