After opting out of his $12.6 million option with the Indiana Pacers, veteran forward David West expressed his desire to play for a championship contender even at the cost of a pay cut. He wasn't kidding as he made the already formidable San Antonio Spurs even more so by signing a $1.5 million veteran minimum, $11 million less than what he would've earned had he stayed in Indiana, to take his talents to Texas.

The first week of July has been an incredible coup for the five-time world champions as they managed to retain their core of Kawhi Leonard, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, and Danny Green, while adding one of the biggest free agents in LaMarcus Aldridge.

While West is no longer the player he was when he was named to two All-Star teams, he still gives the Spurs a solid veteran player who averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Pacers last season.

After opting out of a rebuilding Pacers squad, the Spurs and the Washington Wizards pursued West. It was clear that neither team could come close to offering what he was set to make with Indiana. The Wizards had the full mid-level exception of $5.4 million to potentially offer the big man, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, who made a late bid for the 17-foot assassin, offered their $3.8 million taxpayer mid-level exception.

The Spurs were within one regular season win away from securing the No. 2 seed in the competitive Western Conference this past season, and held a 3-2 lead before dropping the last two games of their first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers. With the very first week of free agency, they've managed to become instant title favorites.

As noted by Ball Don't Lie, the Spurs will be fielding a lineup that includes former regular season MVP (and three-time Finals MVP) Duncan, reigning Defensive Player of the Year (and 2013-14 Finals MVP) Leonard, All-NBA forward Aldridge, former Most Improved Player Diaw, 2006-07 Finals MVP Tony Parker, and 2007-08 Sixth Man of the Year Ginobili.