Report: Davis expected to sign series of short contracts, not super-max deal

New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis is eligible for a super-max extension this summer, but the chances of him accepting a five-year, $240-million contract seem to be losing traction.

Suitors interested in acquiring the prodigious power forward expect Davis to eschew a long-term mega-deal for a series of short-term contracts, sources told ESPN's Zach Lowe.

It's a strategy that was deployed expertly by LeBron James, Davis' Klutch Sports agency-mate, for much of his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, allowing the four-time MVP to control his destiny in the short term while still making a considerable amount of money.

According to The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor, Davis would stand to make $266.6 million from 2019-25 should he sign a super-max extension with the Pelicans this summer. On the other hand, he could still make $252.3 million - just 5.7 percent less - over the same span through a combination of short-term deals followed by a big five-year extension prior to 2022-23.

Davis is averaging 28.1 points, 12.9 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2.7 blocks, and 1.7 steals while playing a league-leading 36.9 minutes per outing. Nevertheless, New Orleans is just 15-20 on the year, putting them above only the lowly Phoenix Suns in the cutthroat Western Conference standings.

Still, Davis hasn't told his circle that he's committed to joining a particular team, a source told Lowe, allowing for the possibility of New Orleans wooing their generational talent into sticking with the program.