The Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers are finalizing a deal that will send two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam to Indiana, per ESPN. Toronto will reportedly receive three first-round picks as well as Bruce Brown and Jordan Nwora in a blockbuster deal three weeks ahead of the Feb. 8 NBA trade deadline. The Pelicans are also involved, sending Kira Lewis Jr. to Toronto.
Siakam, an impending free agent, is “expected” to work out a long-term deal this summer to stay in Indiana, ESPN adds.
“I’m excited that Pascal is getting a first class opportunity with the Pacers, being paired with Tyrese and Myles and being coached by a great coach in Rick Carlisle. His future their looks bright there,” Siakam’s agent Todd Ramasar told Andscape.
Several other teams have reportedly explored acquiring Siakam, including the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks. The Raptors were seemingly at one point involved in talks with the Sacramento Kings, but those talks eventually fizzled. Sacramento has reportedly been unwilling to include second-year forward Keegan Murray in any deal for Siakam. As an impending free agent, Siakam has unusual leverage in these trade talks. He can scare off teams he is not interested in by refusing to negotiate an extension.
Indiana, now 23-17 and holding the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, is well-positioned to make the significant addition. Not only do the Pacers own all of their own first-round picks as well as another 2024 first-rounder from the Thunder, but they are positioned to create max cap space this offseason as well. That gives them a bit of leverage against the Raptors in these negotiations as they can pursue Siakam as a free agent if they do not land him via trade first.
The Raptors already made a big trade this season by sending OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks in a deal that landed them RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. Barrett and Quickley have fit in seamlessly in Toronto, and now, the Raptors appear focused on dealing another key veteran in Siakam to continue their push to make the roster younger around centerpiece forward Scottie Barnes.
Indiana is not known to be especially aggressive in pursuing veteran talent, but the emergence of Tyrese Haliburton as a legitimate MVP candidate has changed their roster-building calculus. The right upgrades could turn the Pacers into championship contenders in the near future. If they believe Siakam is that sort of addition, they’ll pay what it takes to land the star forward.
