David West opts out of Hornets contract, becomes free agent

[url]http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6707803[/url]

Where do you think the best landing spot for West is? I think he'd be great beside Dwight, but they don't have the resources to land him.

New Jersey has been one of his rumored landing spots, but I don't think they need to take on a player with West's salary range after they botched up and signed Outlaw last year.

Denver would be a good fit, but it'd need to be a sign and trade. Indiana would work really well. Actually, they'd be almost ideal. Milwaukee would work fit wise, but I don't see anyone wanting to go to that mess of a team, and it'd have to be a sign and trade. San Antonio would be another great fit, but again, it'd need to be a sign and trade.

The title of this thread should be "End of New Orleans Hornets". Paul won't re-sign now, the league won't want to own a dead duck team. Then Charlotte will probably change back to the hornets.

Lakers? :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE=kumquat]The title of this thread should be "End of New Orleans Hornets". Paul won't re-sign now, the league won't want to own a dead duck team. Then Charlotte will probably change back to the hornets.[/QUOTE]

The league really needs to relocate the Hornets to Seattle, and call them the Sonics. And then like you said, the Bobcats become the Hornets.
So,
New Orleans Hornets become Seattle Sonics
Charlotte Bobcats become Charlotte Hornets

Also, I think the Pacers should sign West, and let him completely heal before playing him, they have two capable power forwards already for the short term. I also think they should trade Hibbert in a S&T for Greg Oden, and let him heal completely. They should try re-sign Dunleavy Jr and Foster for peanuts, while waiving (or buying-out) D. Jones and Ford.
PG: Collison/ Hill/ Price
SG: George/ Rush/ Stephenson
SF: Granger/ Dunleavy Jr./ Posey
PF: West/ Hansborough/ McRoberts
CT: Oden/ Foster/ S. Jones

That's a 4 seed right there (assuming they keep good health)

I think this is the first sign

Are we setting ourselves up for a CP3-headed-to-the-lakers?

[QUOTE=talkingconch]I think this is the first sign

Are we setting ourselves up for a CP3-headed-to-the-knicks?[/QUOTE]
fixed

[QUOTE=Clutch]fixed[/QUOTE]

What are the Knicks going to offer? Billups, Shumpert and Fields? LOL! Turrible.

If he goes anywhere, it's to the Rockets (youngsters), Lakers (Bynum or Gasol), Celtics (Rondo) or someone similar with a good player/s to give back. Main part of the trade in (brackets)

Wow.

This is really a questionable decision considering that West is coming off of major knee surgery to repair his ACL/MCL, is already 30, and has basically suggested hes worth more than the $8 Million hes been paid.

Honestly, I think the best case scenario for him is to hope he can work out a longterm deal with the Hornets. The only problem is that with the NBA owning them, David West having a longterm deal along with Okafor will actually make the franchise look less attractive to a buyer.

This is without a doubt a sign of the end if New Orleans cant bring him back, I know they like Carl Landry but West is a better & more consistent player.

[QUOTE=Hondo]What are the Knicks going to offer? Billups, Shumpert and Fields? LOL! Turrible.

If he goes anywhere, it's to the Rockets (youngsters), Lakers (Bynum or Gasol), Celtics (Rondo) or someone similar with a good player/s to give back. Main part of the trade in (brackets)[/QUOTE]

I don't see why the Lakers want him :confusedshrug:

[QUOTE=Bigsmoke]I don't see why the Lakers want him :confusedshrug:[/QUOTE]
True.

I honestly dont see them trading Bynum for CP3. Bynum is more important to their team as CP3 could be due to the fact he is their starting Center with an upside.

If anything Bynum gets moved for Howard, if not then he stays a Laker.

Looking around the league, I cant really think of a starting fit for a team under the cap.

If hes willing to take the MLE then he must be willing to be trying to win titles.

[QUOTE=Rowe]Looking around the league, I cant really think of a starting fit for a team under the cap.
[/QUOTE]

Pacers

I like West, but not even taking the injury and any potential recovery problems into account, I just dunno. He'll be 31 by the time any season starts, he probably wants something starting at at least ~9 mil. He's just an average defender, not an elite rebounder, doesn't protect the rim.

Could do a lot worse than him, but he's a bit too old to go with the core guys and doesn't provide the frontline defense and rebounding that we'd ideally get from a guy we're spending that kind of money on. And yeah, he just shredded his knee.

I could maybe be talked into it, there're worse fits, but I'm not a big fan of chasing him.

Stupid decision, even without his injury.

[QUOTE=InspiredLebowski]I like West, but not even taking the injury and any potential recovery problems into account, I just dunno. He'll be 31 by the time any season starts, he probably wants something starting at at least ~9 mil. He's just an average defender, not an elite rebounder, doesn't protect the rim.

Could do a lot worse than him, but he's a bit too old to go with the core guys and doesn't provide the frontline defense and rebounding that we'd ideally get from a guy we're spending that kind of money on. And yeah, he just shredded his knee.

I could maybe be talked into it, there're worse fits, but I'm not a big fan of chasing him.[/QUOTE]

this is 100% correct.

David West isnt really that good anyway. He was rocking with CP3 in his 2 All Star appearances. He's just an undersized jump shooting PF that doesnt really do anything else for you other than that. And to add on to the fact that he's coming back from a season ending injury in his 30's.

.... he would be a nice piece for the Pacers though :lol

[QUOTE=Rowe]Looking around the league, I cant really think of a starting fit for a team under the cap.

If hes willing to take the MLE then he must be willing to be trying to win titles.[/QUOTE]
Someone will trade for CP3. Hornets doesn't wanna lose him for nothing

CP3 had such an unlucky career so far, all the injuries, losing that mvp to kobe, which clearly he should have won, losing in 7 against the spurs in the west semifinals, losing byron scott and now west...

He's going to look around and in the end probably re-signs with the Hornets at around what his contract would have been: 7-8 million for a couple more seasons. I don't think there is a lot more for him out there.

[QUOTE=Hondo]What are the Knicks going to offer? Billups, Shumpert and Fields? LOL! Turrible.

If he goes anywhere, it's to the Rockets (youngsters), Lakers (Bynum or Gasol), Celtics (Rondo) or someone similar with a good player/s to give back. Main part of the trade in (brackets)[/QUOTE]
It's not about the package,it's about CBA and CP3.

If CP3 wants to be a Knick and new CBA allows it - HE WILL BE A KNICK

I don't blame him for Opting Out. I just opted out last week. Those telemarketing calls will annoy the shit out of you.

Even if he doesn't make as much money next year, opting out might be better for him because he can have a longer contract.

[QUOTE=kurple]Someone will trade for CP3. Hornets doesn't wanna lose him for nothing[/QUOTE]
I'm pretty sure he was talking about David West. No way Paul signs for the MLE lol

The way I see it, 3 teams really have a shot at him: The Knicks (cap space), Lakers (trade) and Clippers (cap space). Maybe Portland and Orlando.

Guaranteed $8, or opt-out and face an uncertain market, with an uncertain cap and uncertain rules -- all following surgery.

West is very good, borderline all-star, he'd be beautiful on SA/Phx/Bos/Cle/Orl and he has balls...

...but its not the choice I would make.

knicks will have capt space no matter what next season, may it be 9 mil or 15 mil, it depends on which way the cba puts the cap at. and with the cba shrinking the salaries, 9 mill might be enough to get chris paul

[QUOTE=Rowe]Wow.

This is really a questionable decision considering that West is coming off of major knee surgery to repair his ACL/MCL, is already 30, and has basically suggested hes worth more than the $8 Million hes been paid.

Honestly, I think the best case scenario for him is to hope he can work out a longterm deal with the Hornets. The only problem is that with the NBA owning them, David West having a longterm deal along with Okafor will actually make the franchise look less attractive to a buyer.

This is without a doubt a sign of the end if New Orleans cant bring him back, I know they like Carl Landry but West is a better & more consistent player.[/QUOTE]
This is what I came here to post.

[QUOTE=The-Legend-24]Lakers? :confusedshrug:[/QUOTE]

not needed

He's officially opted out and become a free agent:

[url]http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=7886[/url]

weren't the nets interested in him

Wouldn't mind throwing a few dollars at him and bringing him to Phoenix.

Probably not going to happen, though. Seeing as we just drafted Markieff.

The New Orleans Hornets owner was asked what he thought of David West's decision. Sir?






[IMG]http://www.earthsmightiest.com/images/users/uploads/249/weekend%20at%20bernies%20face.jpg[/IMG]





He had no comment.

i like West, but he's a shit rebounder for his position, and he's coming off a bad injury. He could turn out to be fine,but he also could turn out to be an injured player not the same, for 4 years at big money.

[QUOTE=talkingconch]I think this is the first sign

Are we setting ourselves up for a CP3-headed-to-the-lakers?[/QUOTE]

CP3 is going to the knicks. We are looking at Howard and Dwill.

[QUOTE=Hondo]
Also, I think the Pacers should sign West, and let him completely heal before playing him, they have two capable power forwards already for the short term. I also think they should trade Hibbert in a S&T for Greg Oden, and let him heal completely. They should try re-sign Dunleavy Jr and Foster for peanuts, while waiving (or buying-out) D. Jones and Ford.
PG: Collison/ Hill/ Price
SG: George/ Rush/ Stephenson
SF: Granger/ Dunleavy Jr./ Posey
PF: West/ Hansborough/ McRoberts
CT: Oden/ Foster/ S. Jones

That's a 4 seed right there (assuming they keep good health)[/QUOTE]

Agree with you that a front-court of West and Hibbert isn't going to work defensively.

I'm all for taking risks, but giving $60 million plus guaranteed to TWO big men coming off serious knee surgery ... whoa. That's a gamble.

[QUOTE=Joey Zaza]Guaranteed $8, or opt-out and face an uncertain market, with an uncertain cap and uncertain rules -- all following surgery.

West is very good, borderline all-star, he'd be beautiful on SA/Phx/Bos/Cle/Orl and he has balls...

...but its not the choice I would make.[/QUOTE]

Thats how I see it too. The $8 Million he would've made makes more sense than trying to hope a team gambles longterm for more money than he was previously due while coming off a major injury.

He may get a rude awakening just like Ron Artest did a few years ago. In Ron's case he saved face by signing for a full MLE deal at 5/$33 Million on a Championship team. Maybe West could follow the same route, but this time to a team like San Antonio.

[QUOTE=Rowe]Thats how I see it too. The $8 Million he would've made makes more sense than trying to hope a team gambles longterm for more money than he was previously due while coming off a major injury.

He may get a rude awakening just like Ron Artest did a few years ago. In Ron's case he saved face by signing for a full MLE deal at 5/$33 Million on a Championship team. Maybe West could follow the same route, but this time to a team like San Antonio.[/QUOTE] We got McDyess, having West is redundant. Let the Celtics have him.

[QUOTE=Haymaker]We got McDyess, having West is redundant. Let the Celtics have him.[/QUOTE]

Trolling? McDyess is not half the player West is and is most likely retiring.

[QUOTE=Haymaker]We got McDyess, having West is redundant. Let the Celtics have him.[/QUOTE]
Huh?

David West is a much better player than McDyess is right now, not to mention McDyess has already said he was planning on retiring.

Who the hell is his agent? this is a bad move, especially with a looming lockout. He could be 32 by the time he gets playing again. Who is going to be willing to pay more than 8 mil?

So does anyone realistically think he would opt out if he didnt have a guarantee of more money from someone?

Please.

I guarantee you he gets a raise and at least a 4 year deal. Probably from Jersey.