NBA Rumors: David West Could Reunite With Frank Vogel, Mentor Young Orlando Magic Squad
NBA rumors are swirling that David West will opt out of his two-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs and become a free agent this summer, according to several media reports.
ESPN is reporting that David West may be attempting to increase his salary by opting out of his current contract. The former Indiana Pacers star signed for the veteran’s minimum during the 2015-2016 season, making just $1.55 million. David West took a significant pay cut to join the San Antonio Spurs, leaving a reported $12.6 million salary behind in his pursuit of an NBA championship.
In his single season with the Spurs, David West played in 78 regular season games. The 2003 first-round NBA Draft pick averaged 7.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists as David West entered the game from the bench most nights.
Former All-Star David West Expected To Opt Out Of Contract With Spurs https://t.co/qjPCNpcGmX
— INQUISITR Sports (@InquisitrSports) June 13, 2016
One potential landing spot emerging for David West is the Orlando Magic. A media report suggested the pairing for West now that Frank Vogel, his former Indiana Pacers head coach, has taken over the helm of the Orlando Magic. The weeks-old article, which was released well before rumors that David West would opt out of his current contract, indicated Frank Vogel might seek out players familiar with his system in his first season with the NBA franchise.
“West could be a possible addition to the Magic’s young roster as Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton essentially need a veteran presence in and out of the locker room.”
The Orlando Magic have the salary cap room to add David West to their roster. After trading Tobias Harris during the season, the team cleared up $16 million more in cap space to give the Orlando Magic the ability to pay out as much as $36 million in salaries this summer, Fansided reported last month. With the massive jump the salary cap will enjoy this summer, that salary cap space figure could easily top the $50 million mark.
Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Orlando Magic https://t.co/yi9K8JU4m4 pic.twitter.com/5sSjDS3FrO
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) June 9, 2016
A potential stumbling block for David West to join Frank Vogel in Orlando is the NBA franchise’s pursuit of former Magic star Dwight Howard. NBA rumors have suggested that Dwight Howard could return to the team that drafted the center in an attempt to become the team’s focal point on offense, the Inquisitr previously reported.
Rumors that Dwight Howard will leave the Houston Rockets appear to be coming to fruition as the team hired pace-and-space specialist Mike D’Antoni as their new coach this off-season. Dwight Howard and Mike D’Antoni have a friction-filled history from their lone season together with the Los Angeles Lakers, ramping up speculation that the former Orlando Magic center is on his way out of Houston.
Naturally, the Orlando Magic aren’t the only team that would have an interest in David West. Yahoo Sports reported that the 35-year-old could rejoin the San Antonio Spurs at a higher salary than the veteran’s minimum. The bump in pay would likely be only a modest increase as the Spurs have other free agents taking priority, including the playing decisions looming from longtime stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.
The Spurs may also look elsewhere as NBA rumors claim San Antonio will make a run at the summer’s top free agent in Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, the Inquisitr reported. Most indicators point to Kevin Durant staying with the only team he’s ever played for in the NBA, especially with speculation that signing a max contract in 2017 could earn the All-Star $50 million more than re-signing this off-season.
For his career, David West has averaged 14.8 points and 6.9 rebounds in 13 NBA seasons. The power forward started his career with New Orleans before heading to Indiana and San Antonio.
Do you think David West will rejoin his former coach Frank Vogel with the Orlando Magic this summer? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
[Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images]
