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The Indiana Pacers are finalizing a three-year agreement with free agent David West, league sources tell Y! Sports.

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/ ... 6502624256

Good for you guys!

No numbers yet, other than 3 years. Great news, and it avoids the issues an "over 36" contract would arise.

Great to hear. 2 roster spots to go, in all likelihood.

at 36m/3y it's not on the bargain side, though. I doubt that anyone else would have given him over 22/2

@TimDonahue8p9s: At $36mm, West's opening salary will be between $11.2 (backloaded) and $13.0 (frontloaded). Probably flat or frontloaded would be my guess.

3 years, 3rd year reported to be player option.

@TimDonahue8p9s: Frontloaded ($13.0mm) leaves Pacers ~$5.4mm below tax, assuming BAE for CJ and before Tyler's QO.

It seems like a solid deal. I was afraid we would have to offer more money on a 2-3 year deal or so out to 4-5 years at the 12M mark...win win...

Indy4Life wrote:It seems like a solid deal. I was afraid we would have to offer more money on a 2-3 year deal or so out to 4-5 years at the 12M mark...win win...

Anything over 3 years would have made this a highly convoluted deal where all money in the deal would hit the cap in the years before West turns 36. It's a weird thing.

I would think the next priority would be Budinger, with enough left over to sign a third pg and another minimum cost big. Does that mean the qo to Tyler would be recinded?

We're at about $65.2m committed if Watson did indeed sign for the full BAE ($2.016m). Assume that Solo gets the standard 120% of rookie scale, and we arrive at our $65.2m total.

The luxury tax is projected at $71.6m for next year. Thus, we still have about $6.4m to the luxury tax level for this year. Looks like we can either keep the QO on Hans OR rescind the QO and use the full MLE (on one guy or split it in 2).

8305 wrote:I would think the next priority would be Budinger, with enough left over to sign a third pg and another minimum cost big. Does that mean the qo to Tyler would be recinded?

Well, that puts you at 15 players under contract. Tyler would be the 16th, and over the limit.

8305 wrote:I would think the next priority would be Budinger, with enough left over to sign a third pg and another minimum cost big. Does that mean the qo to Tyler would be recinded?

Also, signing Budinger to the MLE (he would likely require the full MLE) AND signing Hans to his QO would put Indy about $4m over the luxury tax line this year. Something Bird specifically stated we would not do.

Not stoked about the third year player option but..

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Jake0890 wrote:Not stoked about the third year player option but..

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Yeah, but I'd imagine he may retire at 35 and skip that 3rd year.

Scoot McGroot wrote:

Jake0890 wrote:Not stoked about the third year player option but..

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Yeah, but I'd imagine he may retire at 35 and skip that 3rd year.

Eh. Barring another injury, I don't think so. Why not just pick up the option and play the year out to get another 12 mil?

Can't not be happy since this was the biggest priority this offseason, but the amount, while a fair amount, seems to put the team in a tough place if they're unwilling to pay the tax after next season. Perhaps Bird was only referring to this season?

I think that dumping Green is a must and possibly Mahinmi, but I doubt it with the team not going after any bigs so far. They may be looking to move Granger for cheaper role players or Lance to avoid having to pay him.

Here's my question:

How can they offer that much to this guy when they didn't even have his Bird rights?

Because he may ready have enough money and want to retire?

I'm not saying its going to happen, but West doesn't strike me as one to merely play out a whole year (heavy workouts, practices, travel, games, etc, not an easy thing) just for a paycheck.

DWCP2 wrote:Here's my question:

How can they offer that much to this guy when they didn't even have his Bird rights?

We has his early bird rights. We could offer him something up to 175% of what he previously made.

Hansborough's qualifying offer has been rescinded meaning the team will look for cheaper options for the bench. I would rather be in the Pacers position paying West 36 for three than in San Antonio's position paying Splitter 45 for 5. West will be worth every penny of that money for the next two seasons at least as long as he's healthy. Hopefully the team can Nab Brand or O'neal for the vet min along with Copeland on a reasonable deal. Then the mission of upgrading the bench is complete.