2014 NBA Playoffs: Indiana Pacers' path
Welcome West
During an uncertain time for the league after the lockout, David West is coming off a torn ACL and struggling to find much of a market after the New Orleans Hornets let him leave in free agency. West flirts with the Boston Celtics, who are looking for ways to create salary-cap space to sign him.
After maneuvering for several years to clear cap space, the Pacers are interested in free-agent forward Nene Hilario, and team executives travel to Denver to meet with him. But after hearing his contract demands, the Pacers pass and begin to focus on West.
Point guard Darren Collison, who had played with West in New Orleans, works as a middleman, selling West on the Pacers and the Pacers on West. Indiana likes West's leadership qualities and believes it's protecting itself by offering him only a two-year deal at a higher average salary -- $10 million per season -- than West's other suitors.
West and Indiana reach a deal on Dec. 11. He proves to be healthy and puts together two strong seasons, as the Pacers reap the rewards of his play and benefit from his locker-room presence. West eventually signs a three-year, $36 million deal in 2013.
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