Glen Davis to opt out of contract with Los Angeles Clippers; become free agent
By Brad Rowland
It is officially “opt out” season in the NBA, and it appears that we have another member of the 2014 free agent class. On the same day that Brooklyn Nets big man Andray Blatche officially declined his player option with the team, it appears that Los Angeles Clippers power Glen Davis will be following suit by opting out of the final year of his deal.
Clippers forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis will opt of of his contract that would have paid him $1.4 million next season, said NBA officials.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) June 20, 2014
In February, the 28-year-old Davis landed with the Clippers after reaching an undisclosed buyout with the Orlando Magic, but this action from “Big Baby” was an expected one. Davis earned a four-year, $25.7 million contract with Orlando following a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics, and even if he under-performed in comparison with that deal, he is certainly valued at greater than his reported $1.4 million contract for next season.
Davis appeared in 68 regular season games between Orlando and Los Angeles, and the 6-foot-9 power forward averaged 9.4 points (on 45.7% shooting) and 5.2 rebounds per game in only 24.4 minutes. There is some debate as to whether he is anything resembling a starting-caliber forward at this stage, but he brings undeniable value with his combination of size and skill, and he will likely command a solid, yet modest multi-year deal as a veteran back-up.
It would certainly not be a surprise to see “Big Baby” remain with the Clippers, especially given his relationship with Doc Rivers, but there should be a healthy market for his services.