INQUIRER Sports

SAN JOSE -- Point guard Baron Davis opted out of his contract with the Golden State Warriors shortly before Tuesday's free agent deadline, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

According to the newspaper, Davis left $17.8 million on the table in order to become an unrestricted free agent, although for weeks he had told teammates that he wanted to stay with the Warriors.

Davis is unlikely to match his previous annual salary, he most likely will be able to negotiate a long-term deal with another club or work out a sign-and-trade agreement, the report said.

Davis, the third overall selection the National Basketball Association draft, was heading into the final year of a six-year, maximum-level contract he originally inked with the New Orleans Hornets in 2002.