The Bulls still have their "Dumb and Dumber" moment.
While most reporting and on-air pontificating has centered on Anthony Davis declining his $28.8 million player option and re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers once NBA free agency begins, The Athletic offered the clearest indication yet Thursday, sourcing out that plan.
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Davis owns multiple options as to what length contract he plans to sign whenever NBA free agency begins. If Davis opts for a "one plus one" deal, in which the second season features a player option, and he declines that to re-enter free agency during the 2021 offseason... Well, you're telling the Bulls they have a chance.
That's a lighthearted, and paraphrased, reference to the classic line uttered by actor Jim Carrey in the aforementioned film. And Davis to the Bulls always has been a pie-in-the-sky theory held together mostly by his heritage. The Perspectives Charter school product grew up in Englewood, holds a youth basketball camp here annually and has called Chicago "the mecca of basketball."
Both Davis and the Bulls likely have different goals. Yes, the Bulls could possess enough cap space during the 2021 offseason to be major players in free agency.
However, their first step is to become relevant again. With a new management regime in Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley and new coach in Billy Donovan, there is considerable internal optimism. Eversley has stated the team's goal is to "retool, not rebuild."
NBA
But landing a superstar of Davis' ilk likely remains a longshot next summer.
Davis, for his part, also could sign three- and four-year deals this offseason, making all this speculation moot. After teaming with LeBron James to lead the Lakers to the NBA championship, it's clear Davis has found professional happiness after forcing his way out of New Orleans.
He's going to be a rich man regardless.