David West will turn down his player option with the Spurs for the 2016/17 season, making him an unrestricted free agent next month, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). The option would have been worth $1,551,659, the minimum amount allowed for a player with West’s NBA experience.
[RELATED: Player option decisions for 2016/17]
According to Charania, West will “evaluate [his] playing future” after opting out of his contract. That wording suggests that retirement may be one option considered by the 35-year-old forward, who has 13 NBA seasons under his belt. Assuming he does want to continue his career, the Xavier alum may also re-evaluate his priorities in free agency, after taking a huge pay cut to join the Spurs a year ago.
West, who spent four seasons with the Pacers before signing with the Spurs last summer, played just 18 minutes per game for San Antonio, his lowest mark since his rookie year in 2003/04. He was still fairly effective in that limited role, however, recording a career-best .545 FG%.
West is one of three Spurs veterans facing decisions on player options and possible retirement this offseason — the other two, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili, are among the franchise’s all-time greatest players. Duncan and Ginobili have yet to make announcements regarding their decisions on player options for 2016/17, but both players are viewed as candidates to call it a career.
I hope he comes back for 1 more year. Would like to see D.West Duncan and Manu Retire NBA
Who is David west?
I hope David decides to resign with the Spurs …
Trailblazers could use him. Or any team in the East.
Come to Boston! Bring your locker room presence to the younf club and get some minutes as an effective forward
He left Indiana because he was tired of being the only real veteran, why would he go back to the same situation?
Spurs should trade Parker and Diaw to the Knicks and sign Mike Conley and Kevin Durant and bring back Andre Miller, David West (if he wants to return since he opted out), and Ginobili and Duncan for 1 more year so they can go out winners. Timmy would need to opt out and sign for at least half for his last year since he won’t play as many minutes his final year and so that the team can sign the final pieces and he can go out on top. If Parker and Diaw get traded to clear cap space, and need for Timmy to rest more, David West would get more playing time.