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Lakers News: Why Anthony Davis' Extension May Have Cost Him Money

Hindsight could be 20/20 here.

Even with a massive new payday agreed upon by Anthony Davis, your Los ANgeles Lakers might have won the deal in the long run for securing their big man. 

The former Kentucky product took on a three-year contract extension worth a projected $186 million on the first day of eligibility, but one writer reported an even bigger sum could've been left on the table. 

Davis would have been eligible for a five-year contract worth upwards of $304 million (basically the same contract as Jaylen Brown) — adding an extra year and increasing the overall salary committed to him. Overall, it would’ve been about six years, $344 million instead of five years, $270.5 million — a one-year, $70 million difference.

via Jovan Buha, The Athletic 

Drafted first overall in 2012, Davis has established himself as an all-around superstar with both his previous stop in New Orleans and in his first few seasons in purple in gold. 

Jaylen Brown's recent extension might be the new blueprint for supermax eligibility in the new NBA, but Davis opted to bypass such an option but still have long term security to play for the Lakers. 

One possible reason as to why this might be is possibly the concerns about Davis' own durability and his given age now that the superstar is on the wrong side of 30. 

Regardless of how long he's attached to Los Angeles, the Lakers brass and fanbase surely will welcome back Davis with open arms as the team gears up for another championship run. 

Davis, LeBron James and the rest of the new look LA roster can only hope that banner No. 18 will hang up in Crypto.com Arena after a successful hoist of Larry O'Brien this year. 

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