David West will opt out of his contract with the San Antonio Spurs, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
West’s option for next season was worth $1.5 million. According to Charania, the power forward will be evaluating his playing future.
Last summer, West signed a two-year deal with San Antonio in order to pursue a championship. In doing so, he declined his nearly $13 million option with the Indiana Pacers. At the time, West declared that all he cared about was winning.
West’s decision could have several reasons. First, he may see an opportunity to go to a better situation in order to win a ring. While the Spurs were fantastic all season, their loss at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs showed clear flaws that need improvement.
Secondly, West could be looking to make back some of the money he lost by moving from Indiana to San Antonio. With the cap set to spike up this summer, a player of West’s caliber, despite noticeable dips in his production, could make a nice sum of money. It makes sense for West to explore his options in that regard.
Finally, West may have played his final game in the NBA. At 35 years old and with the decline in his game, the power forward may have decided that he will no longer play professional basketball.
Previously, West declared that he was not certain about his playing future with retirement a real possibility. More likely is that David West will explore his options and decide based on the offers he receives.
