The New Orleans Pelicans’ perceived advantage in Anthony Davis contract talks does not appear to be much of an advantage after all.
The Pelicans are the only team that can offer Davis, a free agent after the 2019-20 season, a supermax contract that includes a fifth year and $87.3 million more than any other potential suitor. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, however, that significant financial incentive will not be a factor in Davis’s decision-making process.
Davis has not asked for a trade, and the Pelicans are still optimistic that they can convince him to stay long-term as long as he leaves the door open a crack. However, if that much money won’t move him, it seems likely that at some point New Orleans will have to confront the reality that Davis seems uninterested in a long-term stay at any price.
Davis’s situation has turned rather messy in recent days, as it’s becoming apparent what kind of opportunities he’ll have elsewhere. That may ultimately be what costs the Pelicans, as they simply won’t be offering their star the same teammates and potential to contend he will be able to find elsewhere.
