The New Orleans Pelicans are currently sitting at 26-43 record and have been eliminated from post season contention. Moreover, their star player Anthony Davis has just been shut down for the rest of the season so he can undergo surgery on his left knee and a torn labrum in his left shoulder. This situation is not uncommon in professional sports but what makes Davis situation unique is the implications it can have on his contract.
Based on a new set of standards now dubbed as the NBA’s “Rose Rule,” a player with less than six years of experience and eligible for a maximum yearly salary worth 25 percent of the cap, can earn the salary of a player with seven to nine years of experience if they meet any of the following criteria.
- Player is named NBA MVP
- Player is voted twice as an All-Star starter
- Player is named twice to the All-NBA first, second or third team
In his case, Davis was named an All-Star starter and received All-NBA honors for the first time in his career last season. He was not named an All-Star starter this season, and obviously will not be named the league MVP for this year either. With that said, the 23-year-old still has a chance to earn All-NBA honors for the 2015-2016 season. If he does, the Pelicans would be obligated to pay him an extra $24 million, totaling his contract extension to $145 million, making it the most lucrative contract in league history.
Though he is one of the best players in the NBA and integral to the Pelicans’ roster, his play on the court has not translated to wins, which is one of the main criteria for earning All-NBA honors. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
