New Orleans Hornets star David West signs with Indiana Pacers - NBA Update
David West has parted ways with the New Orleans Hornets.
According to his agent, Lance Young, West and Indiana Pacers reached a two years deal that would guarantee the player $ 20 million.
The agreement comes in the backdrop of rumours, linking talks between West and the Boston Celtics. However the negotiations did not work out and it gave Indiana Pacers a chance to acquire the talented power forward.
The 31 years old star was thrilled at the prospect of representing Indiana this season. Talking to ESPN in a telephonic interview, he added
"Indy was a team that I was really giving a good, hard look at. They've got a good balance in terms of a couple good veterans and some really good young players. There are some budding guys and I think that's a team that I can
help in the next couple years."
West was selected by Hornets in the 2003 NBA draft and within few years, he along with Chris Paul, took the team to a whole new level. In his stint with the team, West has so far racked up a career average of 16.4 points and 7.3
rebounds per game. This includes a below par rookie and sophomore year average of 5 points and 4.25 rebounds. In his last six seasons though, West has established himself as low usage post scorer, who is exceptional in the paint.
Had he been a part of a dominant NBA team such as Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls or Boston Celtics, West could easily have grabbed few NBA titles by now. But he preferred to play for the team that selected him all those years. However,
with Chris Paul destined to leave the franchise this season in a trade, West also voiced his desire to play for a championship contending team.
He is not getting any younger and has few years of Basketball left in him, so he deserves a chance of getting a shot at the title and with the Pacers; he has found a good destination. Indiana Pacers are a far stronger team than
Hornets and with the inclusion of Andrei Kirilenko and Carl Landry on the cards and an already talented roster to boot, the Pacers can be a force to reckon with in the coming years.
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