Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis has decided to check out free agency this coming July, shunning the player option for a veteran's minimum of $1.1 million for the coming 2015-16 wars.
The move was not really surprising since it would mean that the Laker forward can see if he can strike a better deal that the $1.1 million deal with the Lakers. However, this doesn't mean that Davis is closing the doors completely on a Laker return though that would depend on what happens during the NBA free agency period this July.
Davis entered the NBA in 2010 where he was selected 13th overall by the Toronto Raptors. With the Lakers, Davis holds averages of 8.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 79 appearances.
Davis was considered as the team's valuable big men and both coach Byron Scott and general manager Mitch Kupchak hopes that Davis can continue to stay on.
But with the move, it may all depend on how much Davis would be worth after free agency, something Davis hopes will be on equal footing once offers come his way.
At 25, Davis knows he still has a long journey ahead and hopefully that would be the Lakers. Davis as grown fond of Los Angeles but as any NBA player, the need to see if you can get better offers and opportunities is only to be expected.
Davis is looking for a longer term, perhaps a three or four year deal. But do that, Davis knows he must improve on certain facets of his game, free-throw shooting to be precise.
Davis admits he has struggled from the free-throw line (48.7%) and being a banger and someone who is expected to play inside and draw fouls a lot, improving on his free throw shooting is certainly a must.
Whether he returns for another tour of duty with the Lakers or not is up in the air right now but he believes that the team will turn things around sooner or later.
