The current free agency continues to disturb the record books. The Jaylen Brown contract, which is over $60 million a year, has shattered the glass ceiling in the NBA. For players that are of a high level, such contracts are going to become commonplace. Therefore, we are heading into a period where a $80 million a year contract becomes a trend for the elite players. One can wonder what can be the value of LeBron James when he signs another extension.
For now, the focus shifts to one of his teammates who made a major bag today.
LeBron James to run it back with another core member
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The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t spend much money on bringing new talent and kept their core intact. They signed D’Angelo Russell for less than $20 million a year. Apart from that, they signed Austin Reaves for more than $12 million a year. Both are bargains. Then Rui Hachimura inked a rather alluring deal, grabbing around $17 million a year. This meant that the Lakers were saving it up for something huge.
And after months of speculations, Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers decided to agree on an extension. They have signed him to a three-year $186 million deal, which means a payout of more than $60 million a year is guaranteed.
BREAKING: Lakers star Anthony Davis has agreed on a three-year $186M max extension, tying him to franchise thru 2028 for total of $270M-plus, @KlutchSports CEO Rich Paul tells ESPN. Davis lands richest annual extension in NBA history at $62M. pic.twitter.com/bf9kWgD7uz
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 4, 2023
The Supermax extension follows the tradition built by the Jaylen Brown contract. After some murmurs that suggested that he may go to the Nets, the Lakers have unveiled the trust they place in the Power Forward/Center.
And why not?
Anthony Davis put up MVP numbers when LeBron James got injured last season. If not for his defensive and rebounding presence, there is no way that the Lakers could have made an unprecedented Western Finals run.
The latest move by the Lakers rewards such efforts also involving his next-level performances during the 2020 NBA title in the Orlando Bubble.
This contract is going to make Michael Jordan and LeBron James blush.
Davis eclipses LeBron James and Michael Jordan
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MJ made around $94 million dollar throughout his career, a value bloated largely due to his historic $33 million-a-year contract in 1997. The record value of this contract remained intact for 26 years before Stephen Curry signed a bigger annual contract. If we take out that single-season contract, Davis’ one-season salary outnumbers Jordan’s 14 seasons. However, adjusting for inflation, it is still around his 1997 number but will surpass it, eventually.
On the other hand, the LA Lakers big man also surpassed his own teammate LeBron James in terms of his current salary. James made around $44 million per year last season, which was the highest annual salary for a Laker during the year before AD’s contract. Now, one can wonder what LeBron’s next contract can look like.
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Anyway, do you think the current move by the Lakers is justified?