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Entire NBA offseason could hinge on Anthony Davis’ free agent decision

By Chase Hughes

NBA offseason could hinge on Anthony Davis' free agent decision originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Fresh off winning an NBA title in his first season after being traded to a new team, one of the league’s best players now has the option to get out of his contract and enter free agency. Last year it was Kawhi Leonard, this year Anthony Davis could follow the same path.

Well, technically, at least. No one at this point expects Davis to leave the Los Angeles Lakers despite the likelihood he opts out of the $28.8 million he’s due next year to seek a new contract. With Leonard, it was less surprising given he was not traded to the team of his choice or closely tied to that team’s future by way of his agent.

Davis, though, has a lot of power in his hands at the moment. In fact, the entire NBA offseason could hinge on what he decides to do.

He is not only one of the very best players in the league, he is also just 27 years old. Davis has the chance to be an all-time great and he may just be entering his true prime.

For as much star movement as there is in the NBA, it’s not often a player of Davis’ caliber hits the open market. If he even flirts with leaving the Lakers and takes meetings with other teams, it would represent a major story.

RELATED: Lakers’ Dwight Howard and Markieff Morris continue streak of ex-Wizards getting rings

You can also add in the fact this is an otherwise down year in free agency. If Davis doesn’t explore his options, the top target could be Fred VanVleet, Montrezl Harrell, Gordon Hayward or Danilo Gallinari. Those are good players, but not superstars who would change the landscape of the league.

And that may be the reality of this offseason. After summers that saw LeBron James and Leonard go into free agency, it could be quiet this time around, if Davis takes a deal from Los Angeles.

He certainly has good reason to. Davis has proven very quickly he forms a championship duo with James. He could just ride out James’ prime in Los Angeles, collect another ring or two, then be his own man with the Lakers or elsewhere once James’ career winds down. This is likely to be the best chance Davis will ever have to collect rings.

Plus, the Leonard route isn’t exactly a model success story at this point. The Raptors made it just as far as his Clippers did without him – the second round of the playoffs. And Pascal Siakam made another leap, leading many to wonder if Leonard made the wrong choice leaving. Now he has to drive around Los Angeles seeing Lakers championship billboards for the next few months.

For Davis, there also does not appear to be a logical landing spot like there was with Leonard, whom many predicted would go to the Clippers to be closer to home. Early in the 2019-20 season, a league source with close ties to the Lakers’ front office remarked to NBC Sports Washington that the Knicks were seen internally as the biggest threat to lure Davis away. But that was a calendar year ago and before Davis won a championship.

Leaving the Lakers for the Knicks now would be like turning down a room at the Ritz to sleep on a park bench. New York only makes sense if he really wants to leave and views them solely in comparison to other teams with cap room.

There aren’t any great choices in that regard, really. In addition to the Knicks, other teams with money include the Hawks, Pistons and Kings. It’s hard to see him leaving the Lakers for any of them. Then, there’s the Pelicans, and we know that’s not happening.

Also, if Davis were interested in building something from the ground up, he could have stayed in New Orleans. Maybe later in his career that becomes more enticing, but it would be surprising if he went in that direction at this point when he has everything already set up in Los Angeles.

There have been too many surprises in recent NBA offseasons to discount the chance of anything happening. But it seems much more likely Davis stays in Los Angeles. and as a result the offseason goes a little quieter than we have come to expect.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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