David West's future with New Orleans Hornets will be clear by June's end

Power forward David West, who is rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn left ACL, must notify New Orleans of his intention on whether to opt out of the final year of his contract by that date.

If West does not exercise his option by then, he’ll be with the Hornets next season, whenever that might begin.

West could not be reached for comment Wednesday, and Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said he has not yet heard from West about his plans for next season.

“It’s all on David,” Demps said. “It’s all David. Nothing on us. I won’t talk to him. We won’t put the gun to his head or anything like that. I never speak for guys. They’re accessible. If they have something they want to say, I’ll let them say it.”

West can earn $7.5 million next season by remaining in New Orleans. Should he opt out by the June 30 deadline, he will be facing a dubious free-agency market because of the lack of a new collective bargaining agreement, as well as questions surrounding his rehabilitation from the injury suffered March 24 in Salt Lake City.