San Antonio Spurs Rumors: David West Signs Contract, Takes Huge Pay Cut To Play For Spurs
San Antonio Spurs rumors reveal David West is heading to Texas. The Spurs convinced West to sign a free agent deal with the franchise, in the process taking a huge pay cut to likely come off the bench. A report from ESPN on Monday (July 6) states that West will accept the veteran’s minimum salary of about $1.5 million for the 2015-16 NBA season. This is a very shocking development, as he opted out of a contract with the Indiana Pacers that would have paid him $12 million for next season. His personal quest to get an NBA title appears to have won out.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge has already signed a four-year contract to go play for the Spurs. He left the Portland Trail Blazers to become a starter in San Antonio and likely the leader of the team when Tim Duncan retires. That’s the same position David West plays, meaning he is going to simply be a player coming off the bench with the second unit. That’s an odd decision for the former All-Star to make, but he really wanted to join a contender this offseason.
Last season with the Indiana Pacers, West averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He started all 66 games that he played in the 2014-15 NBA season, averaging 28.7 minutes a night. Those numbers are going to take a hit if these San Antonio Spurs rumors are confirmed by the front office, but he may fulfill a career goal if the team can make it back to the NBA Finals. That was the goal when the front office opened the checkbook to sign Aldridge to a max contract.
This is a huge signing for the Spurs, especially because they were able to convince a player that should be starting for many teams to take what amounts to an NBA minimum wage contract. He may still have a few good years left in the league, so it’s also possible that if West has a successful 2015-16 campaign that he gets rewarded with a nice pay raise the following season. It’s also possible that West decides to go out on top and retires if the Spurs win a title. He has made just over $88 million during his NBA career, so if he took care of that money, he should be financially secure already.
These San Antonio Spurs rumors are going to also frustrate Cleveland Cavaliers fans, as that team had been pushing hard to convince David West to come play for them. Instead, he will be heading to Texas, ready to give his talent to a good second unit that seems to get better by the day.
[Image Source: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images]
