Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The Indiana Pacers were surprisingly close to making the NBA Playoffs this season, despite all of the injury issues that they were forced to deal with. Paul George missed nearly the entire season, while key players like David West, Roy Hibbert, C.J. Watson, George Hill, C.J. Miles and Rodney Stuckey also missed time throughout the season. They were in the playoff race until the final game of the regular season, where they ended up falling to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Despite not making the playoffs, there are quite a few reasons for them to be excited about the 2015-16 season. That being said, the Pacers have to make some changes if they want to have any chance at making a deep run into the playoffs.
Larry Bird has made it fairly clear that he will be open to making some moves, and Hibbert’s name came up in particular during season closing press conferences. Indiana would like to play a faster pace on offense next year, and that is something that will not fit Hibbert. Another name that should be available this coming offseason is veteran power forward David West, who was obviously declining this season.
At 34 years old, West simply didn’t have the dominating presence that the Pacers and their fans have become used to. He didn’t look like himself for the majority of the season, and simply isn’t going to be the type of bruiser that the Pacers need at the power forward position. West also struggled with nagging injuries throughout the majority of the season, and it’s time for the Pacers to consider moving on from him.
Trading him would be a very difficult decision for Bird, but West won’t fit into a faster style of offense very well either.
During the 2014-15 season, West ended up averaging 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He shot 47.1 percent from behind the field, and still showed excellent veteran leadership. There were quite a few rumors surrounding West at the NBA’s trade deadline, but they decided to hang onto him to see whether or not they could make a run at the playoffs.
Obviously there is still a market for West should the Pacers decide to go that route. He cannot be a dominant scorer anymore, but he still has the potential to be a solid role player and a leader. Those qualities are very valuable, and would likely net the Pacers a piece or two that they could use.
West has been a big part of the Pacers’ resurgence over the past four seasons, but emotions cannot hold the Pacers back from making the right decision for their future. Trading West would free up some cap space for them to make moves in free agency, as he is owed $12.6 million in 2015-16. That number simply isn’t worth paying for an aging player that cannot fill the role that he was given the contract to fill in the first place.
Needless to say, trading him would be the best option for the Pacers assuming they get a fair offer. If they are not offered a piece or two that can help them immediately or free up cap space, then trading him is not the right option.
Considering a trade involving West is much different than searching for a trade partner to take him. As was the case ahead of the trade deadline, if teams come calling then Indiana must be willing to listen and seriously consider a deal. West is their best trade chip at this point in time, and needs to be treated as such.
Expect to see Indiana be aggressive throughout the course of the upcoming offseason. They know that they are only a piece or two away from contending for a championship with a healthy Paul George coming back, and Bird has never been scared to make bold trades. West has meant a lot to the Pacers’ franchise, but his tenure with Indiana may very well be coming to a close.
Evan Massey is the Green Bay Packers beat writer for www.RantSports.com, and also contributes across the NFL, MLB and NBA portions of the site. Follow him on Twitter at @Massey_Evan and like him on Facebook.
