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Gonna be interesting to watch now how Collison's departure affects how West and Pendergraph remain with the team. Grant it, Pendergraph has a basketball relationship with Kevin Pritchard so he could remain safe or on the deep end of the bench for the season, but West however could be more directly affected by the Collison trade because of their relationship on the Hornets.

Grant it, I expect that they will be professionals considering that this is also a business, but at the same time it's like the friend in the company helps you get the job and now that the friend is out and gone how will your relationship with that company be affected?

if they are friends at that level, I think he'll just be happy that DC got his wish and was moved to a team that sees him as a starter. now West does have only one year left and I'm hoping we can extend him before the season and avoid drama after the season but time will tell.

Wizop wrote:if they are friends at that level, I think he'll just be happy that DC got his wish and was moved to a team that sees him as a starter. now West does have only one year left and I'm hoping we can extend him before the season and avoid drama after the season but time will tell.

Technically they don't need to, they can extend him a one year Bird rights contract at 12 million (120% of this years salary).

DWCP2 wrote:Gonna be interesting to watch now how Collison's departure affects how West and Pendergraph remain with the team. Grant it, Pendergraph has a basketball relationship with Kevin Pritchard so he could remain safe or on the deep end of the bench for the season, but West however could be more directly affected by the Collison trade because of their relationship on the Hornets.

Grant it, I expect that they will be professionals considering that this is also a business, but at the same time it's like the friend in the company helps you get the job and now that the friend is out and gone how will your relationship with that company be affected?

I think you answered your own question. While, there's a few cases of players trying to unite with each other (James/Wade/Bosh, D.Williams/Dwight), but for the most part i think players know this is a business. In your example, you said friends in companies can get upset if a friend moves to another company, but the difference here is, the "company" here is the NBA, and they are all still with the Association. Just different departments, if you will.

That being said, I think it will be difficult to re-sign David West next summer. He will be demanding a very big payday. I don't think Collison leaving will have any effect on him, except $$$. Also, Collison wasn't going to be re-signed anyways.

If anything, West may even view us a bit higher of an organization for trading Collison away to become a starter, as he was a backup here. He didn't have him rot in the backup role, he goes to a team where he can play and shine in a contract year.

I would also expect West to want a large payday for the work he's done for the Pacers, being widely considered their "backbone". I don't think the Pacers will be willing to commit long-term to a player that is aging and won't be able to contribute as much a few years from now. Because of this, I'd say there's a high chance that the Pacers will trade him before the deadline at the peak of his market value if they can't get an extension worked out.

I don't see it as a given that david West will command remarkably more than what he gets under his current contract. I expect his numbers to improve this year but not significantly. Too many other guys around who will get shots, rebounds, assists etc for him to accumulate the numbers he had in New Orleans. He's a good player but 32 years old. Potential suiters will think twice before giving a contract we can't justify matching. And, Indiana is a good situation for him. To move he would have to find a competitive team with cap space. Not that easy. I would think a two to three year extension at his current comp level would be pretty attractive to both him and the Pacers.

8305 wrote: I would think a two to three year extension at his current comp level would be pretty attractive to both him and the Pacers.

I doubt that. A 10 million per year contract for 3 years is okay, but not for a guy who's 32. The Pacers have to be looking to move him to the bench sometime in the next few years if they keep him, and I doubt they'd want to pay a bench player 10 million per year.

Jake0890 wrote:

8305 wrote: I would think a two to three year extension at his current comp level would be pretty attractive to both him and the Pacers.

I doubt that. A 10 million per year contract for 3 years is okay, but not for a guy who's 32. The Pacers have to be looking to move him to the bench sometime in the next few years if they keep him, and I doubt they'd want to pay a bench player 10 million per year.

He will play at a starter level at least 2 more years. He will likely take less to stay.

SmashMouthRod wrote:

Jake0890 wrote:

8305 wrote: I would think a two to three year extension at his current comp level would be pretty attractive to both him and the Pacers.

I doubt that. A 10 million per year contract for 3 years is okay, but not for a guy who's 32. The Pacers have to be looking to move him to the bench sometime in the next few years if they keep him, and I doubt they'd want to pay a bench player 10 million per year.

He will play at a starter level at least 2 more years. He will likely take less to stay.

Doubt that. West is obviously noticing both Hill and Hibbert getting big contracts, and possibly both a bit overpaid. I think West will expect the same.

As much as I love David West as a person and player, Paul Millsap will be an unrestricted free agent next summer and he is better at defending those stretch 4s and playing help defense.
I want to keep that option open to be honest.

I'm also sure he is smart enough to understand it's a business and that the Pacers had the choice between matching Hibbert or taking a big step backwards. If he can get more money or a closer shot at the title elsewhere, he should consider it. I think that a lot will depend on how far the Pacers can get this year, for both parties.

Collison and West might be good friends are not off the court, but I saw David mad at Darren more than 1 time and better chemistry between Hill and West on the court. If winning is his goal, what happens on the court seems of bigger importance for choosing wether or not to re-sign.

My biggest preference is that they will soon pull out a Nene-like move though.

Pacersike wrote:My biggest preference is that they will soon pull out a Nene-like move though.

what kind of move is that? the move Denver made to over-pay him or the move Charlotte made to trade for someone who'd been overpaid elsewhere? are you saying we should give West a max contract now or trade for someone else who has a max contract?

If we even have a chance of landing Millsap, we have to go for it. As much as we'd like to be loyal to David West, in the end this is a business, and Millsap is the better player than West.

And a Nene like move is not something that we should be looking for; we're already going to be strapped for cash over the next few years.

I mean trade Hibbert (to a team he wants to get traded to)

Give a player the dollars he is seeking but you don't want to spend and trade him for a young stud as soon as you can so you don't let him walk for nothing. That's what I ment with a Nene move.

I think the Pacers need to keep the core intact as much as possible. Meaning keeping Hibbert; George; and Hill at all costs. As much as it sucks the others may have to be replaced later because of salary demands. But its ultimately up to Pritchard and Walsh to draft; turn over every rock overseas; NBDL etc.. to find good replacements for these guys when there salary demands become too much for the team to accommodate. Millsap is younger and would likely command a bigger salary than West; I think the team would be better off trying to keep West for salary and chemistry reasons. West understands that he wont get max money. He wouldve signed with Boston last offseason for the midlevel exception which used to be about 5 per. He chose the Pacers instead because they have a higher ceiling at this point. He is likely to want to stay a Pacer and accept less to stay. Im not saying he would accept the vet minimum; but he would probably play for 7 or 8 per. No way they get Millsap for less than 10.

That's not a great idea, as far as I'm concerned. Trading hibbert for a younger player will do us no good; we will be taking a step back. If we move hibbert, we have Mahinmi or Plumlee as our starting center. We'll be back with 2/3 of the league that doesn't have a good center.