The future of the New Orleans Hornets has long been centered on Chris Paul(notes), but much of this season – and beyond – hinges on the contract extension talks the franchise’s front office has entered into with forward David West(notes). New Orleans general manager Dell Demps has discussed the framework of a multiyear deal with West’s agents at Octagon, but the Hornets’ hopes of getting him signed prior to the Feb. 24 trade deadline is “not likely at all,” one source close to the talks told Yahoo! Sports. David West can opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent. More From Adrian WojnarowskiLeague holds up Mavs-Raptors trade Jan 21, 2011 No ’Melo, just more drama for Nets Jan 20, 2011 West plans to opt out of the $7.5 million owed him in the final season of a five-year, $45 million contract and expects to command north of $10 million a season on the market, sources said. “It’s hard to see an extension happening here,” one source said. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AvdXwP8lJCdfTFNZWSzkvCs5nYcB?slug=aw-westhornets012411 Great chance for the Rockets to grab him and Okafor. Maybe for Scola, expirings, picks, and Bud and or Hill? Might be able to do this deal and still keep AB.
He cries a lot. he's got the skillset to thrive here. But I'm not sure if he's got the smarts to play a position that requires decision making. Nice jumpshot, but can he make the correct pass
Should be interesting to see where he ends up and for how much with the new CBA. Really says alot about West's confidence in the organiztion and what he values considering the financial insecurity he gets from doing this.
I think the financial security is perspective-based. It's really unlikely that he'll fail to get an offer of greater than $7.5 total guaranteed money from someone. Even if he's forced to sign for a lower per year number under the new CBA, e.g. a 4 year $24 mil contract, that's still $16.5mil more guaranteed money over 4 years than his option. That being said I could easily see him getting a Scola-esque 5-year $47mil contract or more. I think he's making an incredibly smart move. If he had a high player option (>$10mil) then it would be a very questionable move.
You know what's funny? We're talking about the financial security of a guy who makes millions a year. I'm sure he'll do fine financially.
What's the point of getting another soon-to-be 30 stretch 4? Scola's decent enough for that role, and West should command a salary higher than 9M a year. West isn't that big an upgrade over him to warrant us trading pieces to get him. Okafor I'm a little iffy on, he seems made of glass and tends to sit out injuries far longer than he should (ie he spent two months waiting out an injured pinky).
