That didn’t take long. At precisely 12:01am Eastern time, when free agency opened, the Pelicans wasted no time in locking up Anthony Davis to a five-year max extension worth around $145 million that will keep him in New Orleans through at least 2020.
From Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski:New Orleans Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis has reached agreement on a maximum five-year extension that could be worth in excess of $145 million, a league source told Yahoo Sports.
The contract will have a player option after the fourth year, sources said.
Davis confirmed the news of his extension on Twitter:
NOLA, I am here to stay! Just getting started… #6MoreYears #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/Kni8WpikEA
— Anthony Davis (@AntDavis23) July 1, 2015
Remember, the high number on the extension is tied to the 2016-17 salary cap, which is expected to be as much as $30 million higher than it is this year.
For both sides, this deal was a complete no-brainer. Davis got a ton of guaranteed money, and the Pelicans locked up the biggest rising star in the NBA (and likely future MVP) through age 29.