New Orleans Hornets forward David West regains full fitness – NBA Update
New Orleans Hornets star David West has been pronounced fully fit and cleared for basketball. West has made a complete recovery from surgery on his left knee after a six month rehabilitation program.
Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgeries on Thursday gave West the all clear after a final exam. West is understandably excited to return to the court after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“The doctor has cleared him 100 percent, and cleared him to push [the knee] as hard as he can right now,” said West’s agent, Lance Young, according to Yahoo. “David can be ready for the start of training camp.”
West, though, will have to wait a bit longer for training camps or any other form of NBA basketball action. The league has locked out its players since July 1st after the expiry of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
(CBA). Negotiations for a new CBA have been lengthy and frustrating since, and even the presence of a federal mediator didn’t improve the situation.
Since the lockout appears to be lingering on for the foreseeable future, David will have to train on his own and get himself match fit.
The lockout is particularly frustrating for West because the longer it drags on the more shrouded his future becomes. West’s contract was coming towards an end this summer and the player opted out of a final year with the Hornets,
making him a free agent.
As a free agent, West now has to wait in order for the lockout to end and free agency to begin so that he can negotiate with different NBA franchises around the country.
The player is confident though that he will get a substantial new contract offer somewhere in the NBA. He was confident enough to let go of a final year worth $7.5 million with the Hornets, even though he knew the lockout was coming.
It was a h**l of a risk for a player to take in the circumstances, especially one who was recovering from knee surgery. However, West’s form over the last season was such that he is reportedly already the target of a number of
NBA franchises.
The Hornets are very interested in retaining the power forward, who averaged around 19 points and 7 rebounds for them last season before getting injured. The Indiana Pacers and New Jersey Nets, both sides with some salary cap space
available, are also believed to be looking at West as they target an improvement in their front court.
The 31 year forward though said earlier that he didn’t just want a big contract, heading towards the end of his career, West said going to a competitive team remains a top priority for him.
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