Originally Posted by
David Fisher
A couple things on this "what if he took the qualifying offer then became a restricted free agent" business.
-The Rose Rule extension applies only when signing with the Pelicans, period. If he qualifies for it, but accepts the qualifying offer instead the maximum anyone offers him in the summer of 2017-18 is 25% of the cap with 4.5% raises.
So, let's just say that he wants out of New Orleans so bad that despite qualifying for the 30% contract he accepts the QO and the maximum possible four year contract afterward. That contract is only 25% and only with 4.5% raises. Also, remember that in year one he made $9,191,949 instead of $22,605,275. For apples to apples, let's compare under the $80 Million cap.
Out of NOLA option - $89,629,047 over five years
In NOLA option - $131,300,275 over five years
Even if Davis does not qualify for the Rose Rule, he still forfeits nearly $20 Million over five years compared to what he makes with the 25% and full 7.5% raises, ($109,416,896). If he does qualify, however, we're talking about giving up $41 Million. This isn't an apples and oranges conversation (Melo's five year max in New York vs. the four year max elsewhere). This is comparing his earning power over five years in two scenarios.
The reason people aren't giving the "he takes the qualifying offer" much credence is because of how absurd a player giving up $20 to $40 million is over the same time frame.