Guaranteed money in uncertain times
Davis gets $190 million as soon as he signs those papers. Regardless of how he plays or if he gets injured his future is set. Any other year this deal may be tossed to the side but the world is in a pandemic and Davis and Rich Paul weren’t risking it.
COVID-19 has thrown wrenches into a lot of things. Sports could be shut down at any time due to cases exploding and it’s not something to take lightly. Bypassing the opportunity at this extension to take a smaller one wasn’t worth the risk.
It’s easy for outsiders to look at it and say “well he is giving up millions by not taking the 2+1.” But the fact of the matter is, outsiders are not Davis.
He has himself and family to look after. He gets to play five years at $190 million or four years for $149 million and enter free agency again when things are normal in his prime at age 31.
The deal helps him and the deal helps the Lakers. Winning championships is the common goal for both sides.