Report: Terence Davis Seeking $9 Million Per Season In Restricted Free Agency
Jul 12, 2021, 8:40 AM | Updated: 8:44 am
(Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
The 24-year-old guard will hit restricted free agency this summer after turning down Sacramento’s $1.9 million qualifying offer
Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis will reject the $1.9 million qualifying offer from the team and enter restricted free agency this summer, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.
Davis, who was impressive in his short 27-game stint with the Kings last season, will seek a new contract in the neighborhood of $9 million annually according to the report issued by Anderson on Monday morning.
After the Kings traded a second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for the young guard on March 25, the team immediately implemented Davis into the rotation.
In Toronto, Davis appeared in 14.5 minutes per game over appearances–averaging 6.9 points and 1.9 rebounds per game on 41-percent shooting from the field and 36-percent from three-point range in the process.
Sacramento head coach Luke Walton gave Davis the bulk of the rotation’s minutes at the backup shooting guard spot, where Davis averaged 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game–all career-highs–on 44-percent shooting from the field and 37-percent shooting from beyond the arc over 21.5 minutes per game.
Down the final stretch of the season with De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton both out due to injury, Davis thrived in an expanded role, averaging 16.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game over the final 10 games to keep the Kings in the Play-In hunt.
While Davis has assuredly played his way into a larger payday that previously assumed, the Kings are in a financial bind at the moment while they asses the future of its roster.
As mentioned in Anderson’s article, the Kings aren’t expected to have the cap space to match the type of offer Davis is looking for, but the non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($9.5 million) could provide some flexibility in retaining the young guard.
Along with determining Davis’ place on next season’s roster, general manager Monte McNair must decide on how to move forward with standout center Richaun Holmes’ unrestricted free agency, determine the trade value of Buddy Hield and figure out what comes next in regards to disgruntled forward Marvin Bagley III.
Free agency is set to begin on Monday, August 2nd.