Anthony Davis put his name on a contract a world away.
The superstar forward, travelling in Hong Kong, China, locked himself into a five-year, $145 million extension, keeping him with the New Orleans Pelicans until at least 2020. Davis and the franchise came to agreement the minute he was allowed to discuss it on July 1, and followed suit by signing the document the moment he was permitted in China.
“#6MoreYears,” Davis tweeted.
On a day that saw endless drama over an agreed-upon deal that never came to fruition with DeAndre Jordan and the Dallas Mavericks, Davis’ lack of theater set off a wave of happiness across social media and in the Pelicans’ Metairie offices.
“Words can not describe the excitement of the New Orleans Pelicans to have Anthony Davis as the cornerstone of our organization,” general manager Dell Demps said. “Anthony is a great person, a phenomenal player and the ideal representative of his family, the Pelicans and the New Orleans community.”
Meanwhile, at Cava restaurant in Lakeview, the rest of the Pelicans’ agreed-upon free agent acquisitions held a drama-free event of their own.
Omer Asik, Alexis Ajinca and Dante Cunningham joined Demps, team executive Mickey Loomis along with coach Alvin Gentry and his staff, to sign their contracts when the NBA’s signing moratorium ended at 11 p.m.
The group enjoyed a meal and a toast before posing for a picture together as the Pelicans officially guaranteed its top nine contributors from the 2014-15 season were locked onto contracts for the upcoming season.
Asik signed a five-year, $60 million deal which includes $44 million of guaranteed money. Ajinca inked a four-year, $20.2 million contract. Cunningham’s deal is for three years and $9 million and includes a player option in the final season.
Restricted free agent Norris Cole is the only significant contributor from the Pelicans’ final stretch run that hasn’t re-signed to this point, although he has been offered a $3.2 million qualifying offer. He joins Luke Babbitt, Jeff Withey and Jimmer Fredette on the current free-agent market.
Via- Scott Kushner, the advocate