Pacers: David West to Become a Free Agent

It’s official Pacers Fans, David West has declined his player option and will become a free agent this Summer. With less than 24 hours before the NBA Draft, West turned down a $12.6M player option to find a better fit according to Indianapolis Star’s Candace Buckner:

"West made up his mind Tuesday, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. With the tread of 12 seasons in the league on his body, West will not command the same salary that would’ve been waiting for him next season with the Pacers. The choice appears to be more about finding a new fit. West did not want to simply “stay for the money,” a source revealed."

The past few weeks have been filled with questions regarding the direction of the Indiana Pacers once their tumultuous season came to an end. The triumvirate has now spoken – Pacers executive Larry Bird, consulting guru Donnie Walsh and head coach Frank Vogel  – are now committed to a philosophical change in scheme.

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Transitioning from a slow tempo, half court, defensive approach is not easy with the 2014 roster as it stands. Looking to become an uptempo small ball offensive juggernaut means making significant changes to the starting lineup. What all does that entail? Simply, a moderate roster overhaul and a cut-bait approach to the bloated contracts of players who no longer fit the scheme. Step one was already underway, as reported by the Indianapolis Star’s Dana Hunsinger Benbow, Paul George has embraced a move from the wing to the block. This move by George likely played a reason in West’s decision being that he too plays power forward.

Get ready Pacer fans its going to be small ball with an Indiana twist and some questions still remain. Who will replaces West as the locker room leader? With Paul George penciled in at the four, George Hill currently manning the point and C.J. Miles locked in for another three seasons, who else will move into the starting five? It has been stated several times by Larry Bird since March that free agents Luis Scola and Rodney Stuckey are targeted as priorities to re-sign, But Scola is also a power forward and looks likely to continue as the sixth man under their new scheme.

On draft night will the Pacers go big and select the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein, Myles Turner or perhaps Frank Kaminsky? Remember, we are still waiting word on whether Roy Hibbert picks up his $15.5M option. Should he choose to pack it up and head elsewhere, the Pacers will be sitting pretty with an extra $28M in cap space heading into free agency. Another possibility is they set their sights on a point guard and select small school prospect Cameron Payne – who has climbed the draft boards in recent weeks – and slide George Hill over to shooting guard.

It is not outside the realm of possibility that Larry and Co. trade their pick. 1070 the Fan’s Conrad Brunner has already indicated that the Pacer’s are not afraid to do so. The clock is ticking Pacers fans, so while the rest of the staffers all pull triple shifts at the rumor mill, know this, with Paul George healthy and a faster tempo in store for 2015-16 the arrow is pointing back up and a return to the Conference Finals looks promising.