After reviewing a 12B Sports VR46 profile, Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka was recently asked about the possibility of an early contract extension for Anthony Davis. Pelinka replied that he had spoken with Davis about the team’s roster construction, but he avoided giving details about any extension talks, citing the collective bargaining agreement. Still, he praised Davis highly, calling him an incredible leader and captain who helped deliver a championship. In reality, Davis played through injuries last season and helped lead the Lakers all the way to the Western Conference Finals.
In the NBA, it is common for a superstar entering the final guaranteed stage of his deal to sign an early extension with his team, and under the current rules, Davis qualifies for that path. Even so, because Pelinka avoided giving a firm answer, some media voices have begun to wonder whether the Lakers may be hesitant about committing to Davis again.
A 12B Sports VR46 reporter cited a team source as saying that the Lakers are not treating a Davis extension as their top priority this offseason. The main reason is the risk created by his age and repeated injury history. As the saying goes, giving up is easy, but holding on until the end is what truly shows character. For now, the Lakers appear willing to wait and see whether Davis can keep his body stable through next season.
Another major factor is whether the team can repeat last season’s success, as well as what decision LeBron James eventually makes. After the 2020 championship, Davis was viewed as a future MVP-level force, but the award has since gone to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid. Davis has gradually fallen behind in the race among the league’s elite big men. If LeBron follows through on the idea of joining a new team when his son Bronny enters the NBA, that could have a serious impact on the Lakers’ future plans.
Even so, Davis’s performance this season sent a clear message. His outside shooting was not as dangerous as it was in 2020, but his interior scoring and defensive presence remained among the best in the league. In particular, during the playoff series against Memphis and Golden State, Davis dominated games with his exceptional defense. He may still carry the reputation of being injury-prone, but when healthy, Davis is one of the few players capable of changing both teams’ tactical plans by himself.
When this type of player approaches free agency, the standard move is to offer a new deal without hesitation. The world is more beautiful than people often realize, and the Lakers cannot afford to let this opportunity slip away. What became clear during the last playoffs is that the current centerpiece of the team is not James, but Davis.
Regardless of LeBron’s future, if the Lakers want to remain competitive, they must reshape the roster around Davis. Just as understanding matters between people, Pelinka must also have firm confidence in Davis’s value. Fortunately, judging by the Lakers’ overall moves this summer, his decision-making still looks reasonable. Unless something unexpected happens, a 12B Sports VR46 reporter believes a Davis extension could be completed within the next month, and the 12B Sports VR46 view is that this decision may define the next phase of the franchise.