This blog doesn’t usually post non-Pacers news, but I’ll make an exception this time to spew up my thoughts on David West’s signing with the San Antonio Spurs.
The contract is one year, $1.4 million, the veteran’s minimum, meaning West essentially left $10.2 million on the table as he would have made $12.6 million by picking up his player option with the Pacers.
I’m happy for West, and I hope he wins one with the Spurs — providing, of course, that the Pacers don’t. Actually, wouldn’t it be sweet irony if the Pacers end up surprising everyone and winning the title? Ahhh, it’s July. Let us dream a little.
West’s detractors will bring up his quote from last year after Paul George broke his leg, when he said he wasn’t wired to leave this group of guys to go chase a championship, and that he would accept the hand that he had been dealt. He obviously changed his mind after watching the most recent Finals and after Bird threw Hibbert “under the bus” by begging him not to come back.
Ask yourself if you’d be willing to leave $10 million on the table for a diminished role and just a better “chance” at winning a title, THEN criticize West. A lot of players say it but few have the balls to do it, especially at this level of sacrifice.
The Spurs will be the perfect fit for West. He had offers from Golden State, Washington and Cleveland, but backing up Duncan and Aldridge in San Antonio will offer him more minutes and a better system. In Golden State he’ll just be another David Lee, a glorified towel waver. In Washington he’ll still be primarily a backup on a team that will still be a huge underdog to come out of the weak East. On the Cavs he won’t get much run either given their clogged front court, as he’ll be have to share minutes with LeBron, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov, and maybe Anderson Varejao (if he sticks around).
I’ll be rooting for David West next season. The man changed the culture in Indy and has paved the way for Paul George to become the undisputed leader of the franchise. He will be missed, but not forgotten.
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