2011 NBA Free Agents: Where Will David West Land?
David West is going to be a hot commodity this season—a two-time All-Star with the post moves to prove it.
West, who has been with the New Orleans Hornets for seven seasons, is aging and coming off a torn ACL, but there are several teams with needs at the power forward position, and he averaged 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds last season.
So far, the Indiana Pacers and New Jersey Nets have been rumored as the two most likely destinations for the 6'9", 240-pound big man.
The Pacers have a solid up-and-coming center in Roy Hibbert. Placing West next to him would be a formidable one-two punch down low for the Pacers. You add in Darren Collison's emergence last season and a superstar in Danny Granger and you have a team that won't only make the playoffs, but look good getting there.
As for the Nets, they've been searching for a way to get out of the gutter for a while now. They made a good first step last season when they traded for top point guard Deron Williams, and they have a threat in center Brook Lopez, but beyond that, they are severely lacking.
The concerns about West's age are valid but not as much as you may think. He's always been a pick-and-pop player, rolling off screens and using his strong mid-range game to bury jumpers in opponents' faces. In that respect, his age won't be as much of a problem.
The way I see it, the Nets have the upper hand in the David West sweepstakes, if only for the money they would likely offer him. There are questions whether the Pacers would break the bank for West.
Plus, the Nets are coming off a 24-58 season and in dire need of some more star power.
If a legitimate playoff contender entered the sweepstakes, West may be persuaded to sign for less money with the chance of going to the playoffs. He's 31 years old right now, and that's when players generally start thinking about a ring above all else.
Regardless, whoever ends up with West gives themselves a big boost in a player who will likely still be productive as he ages because of his style of play.
A pick-and-roll involving Williams and West would be hard to stop.
