The Indiana Pacers have a great all-around squad who worked together to get them the third seed in the Eastern Conference and to the Eastern Conference Finals. Unfortunately several players became free agents at the end of the season which means the team may break up. The Pacers however made it known who’s a priority. Read more after the jump.
Ben Hansbrough, Tyler Hansbrough, Jeff Pendergraph, D.J. Augustin, David West and Sam Young officially become free agents on July 1 and the first order of business for the Pacers is to re-sign West, their starting power forward.
“We want him back as much as you can want anyone back,” president Donnie Walsh told The Indianapolis Star. “We think he’s one of the anchors of this team.”
“(West) knows we’re in a great position moving forward. He’s priority No. 1 and come July 1 (the start of free agency) we’ll have a lot of conversations,” said general manager Kevin Pritchard.
The Pacers could become taxpayers in the next few years, however West deserves to be paid and if he’s willing to accept a figure close to the $10 million he earned this season, he and the Pacers should be able to come to terms quickly. West has previously said he prefer to re-sign with the Pacers.
