Best: Signing David West
David West signed with the Pacers on December 11, 2011, two weeks before the lockout-shortened season. The addition of West gave the Pacers an immediate boost at the power forward position which was previously held down by a combined effort of Josh McRoberts and Tyler Hansbrough.
West made a quick impact not only on the court but in the locker room as well. He became the leader and mentor of the entire team along with veteran Danny Granger. West also became the go-to-guy during his tenure in Indiana. No one on the team could match his game in the post or always reliable mid-range jumper. He led the blue and gold to a place they had not been in a long time.
They twice made the Eastern Conference Finals and he helped push the LeBron James led Miami Heat to a seven-game series and a six-game series.
West played four seasons for the Pacers and it should have been more, but problems with the front office led him to opt-out of the final year of his contract and sign with a contender. He averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per game for the Pacers. Between his play and his leadership, there is no doubt the Pacers would have not made it as far as they did in the playoffs. This is why signing West will always be one of the best Pacers’ transactions.