Baron Davis to sign D-League contract
Two-time NBA All-Star guard Baron Davis is expected to sign a contract with the NBA's Development League by Wednesday, his agent Todd Ramasar told Yahoo Sports.
Davis, 36, decided over the weekend that he would sign a contract to join the D-League after contemplating the move for two years. Ramasar said that Davis' wife recently gave birth to their second child, which pushed his hopes of joining the D-League until after Jan. 20. The Dallas Mavericks, who have been known to add NBA veterans to the roster of their D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, worked out Davis in Los Angeles last Sunday, Ramasar said.
"He is looking forward to playing in the D-League and showing teams what he is capable of," Ramasar told Yahoo Sports. "He feels that the timing is right. More than anything Baron has put in the training and is confident in his body. He feels he is ready to return to the NBA."
Davis last played in the NBA during the 2011-12 season with the New York Knicks before tearing ligaments in his right knee during the playoffs. The 13-year NBA veteran averaged 16.1 points, 7.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds during his career. Davis has been working out daily with former NBA assistant and player development coach Rico Hines, his former UCLA teammate, in Los Angeles. The 6-foot-3 combo guard last played competitively in the Drew League Pro-Am in Los Angeles last summer.
"Every pro athlete wants to retire on his terms," said Ramasar, who also played with Davis at UCLA. "His current last game wasn't the way he wanted to go out. He is very excited about the D-League."
Once Davis' signs his D-League contract he will be entered into its player pool. As of Tuesday evening, the D-League waiver preference order included Austin (San Antonio Spurs), Delaware (Philadelphia 76ers), Texas (Dallas Mavericks), Fort Wayne (Indiana Pacers) and Westchester (New York Knicks), in that order. Ramasar said that Davis had no preference in D-League team. Former NBA guards John Lucas III and Russ Smith are also available to be claimed in the D-League player pool.
Davis could make as much as $25,000 playing in the D-League and as little as $13,000. He made $147 million during his NBA career. Since departing from the NBA, Davis has been involved in acting and also producing a documentary about the Drew League.
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