Power forward David West (L) and head coach Frank Vogel talking to a referee during their time together with the Indiana Pacers. (Photo : Getty Images)
Recent rumors have emerged that San Antonio Spurs power forward David West could reunite with his former Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel in Orlando when he hits free-agency this summer.
The 35-year-old West just finished the first season of his two-year, $3 million deal with the Spurs that comes with a player option at the end of the first year. A lot of NBA analysts expect the two-time NBA All-Star to opt out of the contract and become an unrestricted free agent this July and it might be his intention all along.
There are speculations that West is trying to find a team that will provide him a much richer contract and one that could use his influence a whole lot more than him just playing 18.0 minutes per game coming off the bench.
And the Orlando Magic is said to be the best team that can give him all that mainly because his former mentor is now formally announced as the head coach of the said squad, as per ESPN.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Vogel could also be targeting West this free-agency period as the 42-year-old bench tactician recently expressed the kind of player he wants to be with him in South Florida.
"Well, we need some tough guys. Some tough guys that are leaders, and I think bringing in a guy that has a presence about him that the younger players will respect, both with his presence, his voice, his approach," Vogel said. "But also the ability to kick some tail on the court, to deliver on the court, that's the best way to lead."
Now, the last sentence may not be the best description for the aging power forward, but the report further said that he is "old school, hard-nosed and ridiculously principled", traits that Vogel will need from a team leader to make it work in Orlando.
When it comes to compensation, the Magic could definitely offer West more than San Antonio can and would as the team had cleared up at least $16 million more in salary cap space when they let go of Tobias Harris via a trade last February.
That brought up their potential cap space to $36 million this summer, which means they can accommodate more veteran free agents to complement with West if they want to.
