catch20two wrote:Such a disappointing Game 7. I'm sure the Pacers are letting David West walk. He wasn't much of the veteran presence that he should've been.
On the contrary, I think they're definitely keeping him. He has a very large role in this team not only mentality wise, but by being a guy they can depend on in the half-court. He creates a whole lot from that elbow after pick-n-rolls whether it's for himself, finding Hibbert with nifty passes in the paint or passes back out to the perimeter for good looks. I don't think they can find any power forward who could replace him and doing so would be taking a step back when they actually might be the main contenders for winning the ECF next year.
I don't know why you think he wasn't much of the veteran presence he should have been. Him and Roy did a great job by setting the tone for the series by banging people down low. And don't get me started on that game 6 where he gutted out some clutch baskets in the fourth and 14 rebounds while having a 103 degree fever.
They're so far projected at 49 million for their next year salaries. I expect them not to extend Tyler Hansbrough's qualifying offer of 4.2 million and his bro's at 1.8. They might keep Pendergraph. So that would leave them at 43 million. That's plenty of cap space (I think the salary cap will be at 58, if I remember correctly) to give West those 50 million for 4 years. Would he be over-paid? Sure, that's a bit too much. But that's the one luxury they can afford, imo. The team was built perfectly through the draft, but that signing of West was key as well.
If Granger can be the sixth man we expect him to be and they sign two good free agents instead of DJ, this team has the potential to win it all next year. Although the fact that Granger's deal is an expiring one, makes for a fun debate as well.