Ed Davis was probably the Los Angeles Lakers’ most consistent big man in 2014-15, and at an absolute bargain. Given that production, he’ll likely garner quite a few suitors this offseason once he opts out of his current contract to become an unrestricted free agent, which he will do, according to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times.
"Forward/center Ed Davis will opt out of the second year of his deal with the Lakers before July, foregoing $1.1 million for a shot at a bigger contract.“I’m going to test free agency,” Davis told The Times in a telephone interview. “Hopefully I’m back with the Lakers, as long as everything is equal with all the other teams.”"
He’ll still have the option to return, but the Lakers will have to make a competitive offer.
-== 3 Ways to fix the Lakers ==-
Davis says he would accept a bench role as the backup center should the Lakers acquire one capable of winning the starting job. He would easily become an above-average backup center capable of rebounding at a high rate and finish at the basket efficiently.
More importantly, he appears to fit very well alongside rookie Julius Randle, who will return next year and should get most of the minutes at power forward. Randle prefers to work more from the elbow area while Davis is primarily a low post player.
This is not the case with Jordan Hill, who tended to float around the perimeter more than is ideal this season. The Lakers currently hold a team option for Hill and will likely choose between him and Davis, if they keep either. Hill’s option is for $9 million, so whoever is cheaper will probably take priority over the other.
Davis’ energy and finishing ability around the basket will be welcomed by many, so it’s nice to see a player who gambled on himself real the rewards of producing amid the mediocrity that surrounded much of last year.