Mens Basketball Wire

Baron Davis, Golden State’s star point guard, is looking for a big contract extension, and claims that if he doesn’t get it, he’s ready to declare free agency after this year.  His contract is through the 2010 season, but he can opt out after this season, and he wants a decision from the team before the start of training camp in two weeks.

Davis is coming off perhaps his best season in his eight year career.  He averaged just over 20 points a game and almost 9 assists during the regular season, and 25 points during the playoffs, where his Warriors offed the #1 seeded Dallas Mavericks.  But while Davis is certainly an explosive scorer as well as an energetic and vocal leader, Davis’ career history has also been full of injuries and missed games.  Last year, Davis played in 63 games.  The year before, 54, and during the 2004-5 season, Davis played in just 46 games.  In fact, one has to go back to the 2001-2 season for the last time the guard played a full season.  Certainly when he’s healthy, Davis is one of the top guards in the NBA, but his health problems are a real concern at age 28.

Davis is from Los Angeles and went to UCLA, and staying in California is something that Davis has said he would like to do, but getting a final big-money extension would certainly take precedent.  One thing that is for certain, Davis is looking for a decision within a few weeks, or this may be his farewell season in the Bay Area.

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