Grading Lakers' Biggest Moves from 2023 NBA Offseason | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

The Contract: Three years, $186 million

The Analysis: This deal is the richest annual contract extension in league history, averaging an eye-popping $62 million per season.

In terms of talent, Davis has more than enough of it to justify the cost. He is an elite paint protector who doubles as a high-end scorer who can rock the rim or shred nets with a silky mid-range jumper. He's been a great player for nearly his entire career—he was a 20-point, 10-rebound provider by his second season—and he's shown no signs of slowing down on the court.

The thing is, though, he doesn't always make it to the court. His injury history is about as lengthy as they come. He hasn't played 70-plus games since 2017-18 and has averaged just 44 outings over the past three seasons. Expecting him to buck this trend as he probes deeper into his 30s is an extreme example of unbridled optimism.

Locking up Davis gives the Lakers some clarity for their post-LeBron chapter—whenever that will start—but it also exposes L.A. to a high level of risk given Davis' availability issues. Clearly, the Lakers think the security of having Davis signed long-term was worth it, but if his injury issues worsen with age, this has albatross-contract potential. L.A. can keep championship-chasing with Davis for now, but depending on how it builds around him moving forward, the final few years of this pact could be rough.