All-Star forward David West left a boatload of cash on the table last summer for a chance to win a championship with the San Antonio Spurs. But with the Spurs suffering an untimely second-round exit this season, West may now be having second thoughts about his decision.
According to a report by Shams Charania of The Vertical on Monday, West will decline his $1.55 million player option for next season and evaluate his playing future.
Spurs forward David West will decline his $1.55M player option for 2016-17 and evaluate playing future, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 13, 2016
The 35-year-old West had a diminished role with the Spurs in 2015-16, but was still decently productive in 18.0 minutes per game averaging 7.1 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
As a big who can score efficiently from the post or from midrange, makes the extra pass, and doesn’t hurt you on the defensive end, West’s market value may still be well above the $1.55 million he is turning down, even if he’s not an ideal small-ball piece. After 13 years in the league, it’s also possible that West decides to retire or that this is a calculated move to free up more cap room for San Antonio to work with this offseason.
Whatever the case, it’s looking more and more like West settling for over $11 million less than he would have made by picking up his player option in Indiana to sign with the Spurs may not have been the right call. Even if in doing so West earned the respect of Kevin Durant (whose Thunder ironically were the ones who eliminated the Spurs from title contention), respect alone doesn’t win rings, as West is now learning the hard way.
Image Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
H/T NBA Reddit
