On Wednesday afternoon, the Indiana Pacers bolstered their roster, buying Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam in a three-team cope with the New Orleans Pelicans. In what I think about a win-win commerce, the Pacers despatched guard Bruce Brown, ahead Jordan Nwora, and a number of 2024 second-round picks to Toronto. As well as, Indiana shipped a projected top-four 2026 first spherical choose to the Raptors. As part of the deal, Indiana acquired guard Kira Lewis Jr. and money consideration from New Orleans.
🚨 Pascal Siakam TRADED to the PACERS!
through @wojespn pic.twitter.com/2NW9QUmZvC
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) January 17, 2024
Indiana did not have to surrender their younger, core gamers
RELATED: RAPTORS TRADE OG ANUNOBY TO THE NEW YORK KNICKS
A daring, but good transfer, the Pacers did not need to half methods with any of their youthful gamers. Bennedict Mathurin stays a core a part of this workforce, together with defensive specialist Andrew Nembhard. They even retained Jarace Walker, whom they chose eighth total within the 2023 NBA Draft.
We’re extremely excited to welcome Pascal to Indiana,” mentioned Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard in a PR team issued statement. “As a two-time All-NBA choice and two-time NBA All-Star, Pascal is a participant that our group has lengthy admired and revered. We really feel that his distinctive offensive skillset will complement our type of play, whereas his defensive versatility might be a worthwhile asset to our workforce.”
It was solely a matter of time earlier than Siakam was moved, as commerce rumors continued to warmth up in current weeks. At present 16-25 this season, Toronto lately shipped OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, in exhange for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. Whereas Toronto hasn’t seen a playoff run because the 2021-2022 season, they’re in clear rebuild mode, and can proceed to see 22 year-old Scottie Barnes as their point of interest.
welcome to Indy, Pascal Siakam 😤 pic.twitter.com/KbzTdvxDKq
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 18, 2024
The commerce is sensible, particularly since Siakam and Anunoby have been more likely to enter free company this summer time. Apart from their championship title in 2019, the Raptors displayed nothing however mediocracy because the 2020-2021 season. With the departure of Kawhi Leonard and Fred VanVleet, Toronto merely could not discover a technique to win, regardless of retaining a number of proficient gamers. With the current modifications, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley will proceed to develop, and the Raptors group can plan for the long run. Imploding their submit championship roster was the inevitable.
The Pacers entrance workplace believes on this workforce
The Pacers have not seen playoff motion because the 2019-2020 season. In reality, Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard has been vocal about placing a colossal commerce prior to now.
Contemplating Indiana has the younger expertise, and draft capital, now was the proper time. It is clear as day, the Pacers are manner forward of their rebuild schedule. From 2020-2023, Indiana had a cumulative win loss report of simply 94-142.
From my perspective, the Pacers entrance workplace believes on this workforce, particularly after the splash they made on this yr’s In-Season Event.
The draw back? Pacers will depart methods with veteran guard Bruce Brown, who introduced championship expertise from his time in Denver. Brown, who signed a 2-year, $45 million contract with the Pacers this previous offseason, was a monumental contributor this yr. The previous Pacer began all 33 video games with Indiana this season, averaging career-highs in level (12.1), minutes (29.7), and free-throw proportion (81.7 %).
“A two-time All-Star, who’s 29 – proper within the coronary heart of his prime.”@PatBoylanPacers & @PacersJJ break down the deal that introduced Pascal Siakam to the Pacers on in the present day’s episode of The Sideline Guys powered by @GainbridgeSport.
🎧 https://t.co/XKmOsTMGTU pic.twitter.com/laP8sTxxgr
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) January 18, 2024
In eight seasons with Toronto, Siakam averaged 17.4 factors, 6.5 rebounds, and three.6 assists, on 32.7 % three-point, and 49.1 % discipline objective capturing. In 510 profession NBA video games, the ahead was named a 2x NBA All-Star, All-NBA Second Group, Most Improved NBA Participant, and was a key half within the Raptors championship run.
He brings defensive versatility to the Pacers
He now joins a Pacers workforce, who leads the NBA in complete offense this yr. Not solely is that this a dynamic workforce scoring clever, they’ve the best offensive ranking in NBA historical past. Led by guard Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana is presently in playoff competition, and stays devoted to constructing a successful roster. With Haliburton rising right into a star, Siakam is all the things the Pacers hoped and dreamed for.
Whereas Indiana is elite in relation to scoring, they lack protection, and dimension, subsequent to heart Myles Turner. Placing up a league finest 125.6 factors a sport is nice, nonetheless, in relation to competition, this workforce will want protection. Rating twenty seventh in defensive ranking (119.5), the Pacers permit a league worst 50.2 discipline objective proportion. As well as, they lack perimeter defending, and wrestle on the boards. After I imply they wrestle, they rank close to final in defensive rebounding (30.6 per sport).
Siakam, who’s 6’8, is a two-way wing who will make a right away influence on each side of the ball for Indiana. Whereas Myles Turner was as soon as concerned in a number of commerce rumors, he is now a concrete a part of their entrance courtroom. With Turner’s potential to stretch the ground, Siakam will convey versatility, together with dimension and size on the defensive finish. He is wonderful at defending a number of positions, which ought to assist their guards. He is additionally a viable scoring possibility, who will substitute Jalen Smith within the beginning rotation.
Can the Pacers signal Siakam to a long-term deal?
Certain, the Pacers gave up a number of property for Siakam in a uncommon transfer by the Pacers. With how proficient Hailburton is, Siakam has by no means performed alongside such a proficient facilitator and scorer like him. Whereas this workforce could be very younger, their bench stays extraordinarily deep. Jalen Smith, Obi Toppin, Jarace Walker, and Aaron Nesmith stay in rotation for Indiana. Maybe their depth would be the secret to their success.
With $38 million left on his expiring contract, the largest query stays if the Pacers can retain the ahead longterm. Though he is ineligable to signal a long run deal till summer time, there’s hypothesis amongst a number of reviews that the Pacers are optimistic.
In an interview with interview with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Siakams agent, Todd Ramasar, spoke about his purchasers upcoming free company and the current commerce.
“I might see Pascal in Indiana long run,” Siakam’s agent, mentioned Todd Ramasa. “They need to see Pascal with the group long run.” He additionally added the ahead is “excited and ecstatic in regards to the alternative in Indiana.”
A excessive threat,excessive reward transfer, the Cameroon native is within the prime of his profession, and can make a right away influence for Indiana. In 39 video games this season, Siakam is averaging 22.2 factors, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Moreover, he is capturing at a excessive clip from the sector (52.2 %), his private finest because the 2018-2019 season.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter, Social Media Supervisor, and Sports activities Content material Creator at Ballislife. She has a concentrate on the Sports activities Betting, NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane presently resides in Connecticut/NYC space along with her Cat and Canine. SJ has her undergraduate diploma from the College of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in enterprise administration.
