The impact of Anthony Davis signing an extension (via @EatYourReedies) https://t.co/Qqwuqs1NCf
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 18, 2020
1. Cannot use his Bird Rights next offseason
There is this dream scenario that the Los Angeles Lakers are seemingly preparing for that is going to get a bit tougher now. The Lakers have been gearing up for the 2021 offseason when Giannis Antetokounmpo, among others, are set to become free agents.
Rob Pelinka has set the salary cap in a way such that the Lakers would be able to bring in Giannis to create perhaps the best big-three in NBA history. Part of that dream scenario was Davis opting into his deal this year and then the team utilizing his Bird Rights next offseason to go over the cap to bring both of them in.
Getting Giannis (or another star) is still a posibility, but it does become tougher to manage this offseason, which will have a domino affect.
2. The Los Angeles Lakers may have fewer free-agent options
The Los Angeles Lakers could still utilize things such as the mid-level exception and veteran minimum contracts to fill out their roster. Trades are also a possibility as well and they do have their first-round pick this year.
The problem is that the Lakers may have to fill more holes than expected or spend more money to keep certain guys on the team. In that same Shams report, he reported that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is expected to opt out of his contract for a new deal.
I’m not a cap expert but the other major impact of AD exercising his player option is it may put the Lakers nuder the cap meaning they will only have the $5M room exception rather than the $9M MLE with which to sign free agents.