Los Angeles Lakers News & Rumors: Ed Davis Testing Free Agency; Will He Return to LA Next Season?
The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to make moves in the offseason and re-signing Ed Davis could be one of their priorities after the forward announced that he will opt out of his contract to become a free agent in the offseason.
Davis, the 13th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, signed a two-year deal worth $2 million with the Lakers last summer with a player option in the second year.
The 25-year-old forward told the Los Angeles Times that he decided to forgo the second year of his deal in the hope of getting a bigger salary -- more than the $1.1 million he is scheduled to receive if he decides to exercise his option for the 2015-16 NBA season.
Davis, who also played for the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies in his first four years in the league, had his best year with the Lakers this season. In 79 regular-season games, the former North Carolina standout averaged 8.3 points on 60.1 percent shooting from the field to go along with a career-high 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.
While he decided to test free agency this summer, Davis said that re-signing with the Lakers will still be his top priority this summer. He said his relationship with his teammates, coach Byron Scott, team owners and general manager Mitch Kupchak in his first season with the Lakers was very desirable.
"This is where I want to call home," Davis said of the Lakers. "The city, the coaching staff, the owners, the general manager, everything like that, I'm definitely comfortable. I look at Coach Scott. He's always been a straight shooter with me since day one. If he says something, he means it. I think Mitch Kupchak is the same way."
The Lakers are expected to welcome Julius Randle back to the lineup next season and could draft another big man in the 2015 NBA Draft, which could affect Davis' role if he decides to return to the Lakers. Davis believes he is worthy of starting role, but it will not be the main factor when he makes his decision this summer.
"I feel I'm not really going to a situation where I want to start," Davis said. "I want to finish games. I want to be a key piece in a rotation. I'm always going to fight to get the starting job. If I'm slotted to be one the first bigs off the bench, I don't have a problem with that."
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