Raptors trade forward Pascal Siakam to Pacers

The Pacers reportedly acquire All-Star Pascal Siakam from the Raptors in a trade that also involves the Pelicans.

According to several sources, the Toronto Raptors and the Indiana Pacers have agreed to swap power forward Pascal Siakam for three players and three future picks.

Raptors are given:

Brown Bruce (through Pacers)
Jordan Nwora (via the Pacers)
Lewis, Kira (via Pelicans)
Two first-round selections in 2024 (via Pacers)
first-round selection in 2026 (via Pacers)

Pacers are given:

Pascal Siakam (via Raptors) Prospective selection in the second round (via Pelicans)

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports that the New Orleans Pelicans will also be parties to the transaction.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports,

New Orleans was able to match Siakam’s salary without having to add a player when they signed Lewis.

The Pelicans’ action positions them to fall below the luxury tax threshold.

This means that in 34.7 minutes a game this season, the 29-year-old forward is averaging 22.2 points,

6.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.

The Raptors selected Siakam with the 27th pick overall in the 2016 Draft. He is shooting 31.7% from beyond the arc, 75.8% from the free-throw line, and 52.2% from the field.

In five of his eight NBA seasons,

he has averaged over 20 points per game.

He was selected to the All-NBA Second Team in 2020 and an All-Star twice (2020 and 2023) as well.

Siakam’s $37.9 million deal is about to expire.

He was a key player in the Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship victory.

After being a key player in the Denver Nuggets’ 2023 NBA championship run,

Brown was signed by the Pacers over the summer.

Naturally, he has benefited from a larger role at Indiana,

where he has started all 33 of his games and recorded career highs in scoring (12.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.7 rpg).

He is expected to start alongside RJ Barrett,

another recent addition to the Raptors frontcourt, who the team acquired on December 30 in a trade with the New York Knicks.

Lewis has played in 15 games for the Pelicans this season, averaging 2.9 ppg and 1.2 rpg,

while Nwora has played in 18 games for the Pacers, averaging 5.2 ppg and 1.8 rpg in a bench role.

Wojnarowski claims that the picks Toronto will receive in 2024 are from Indiana and the poorest players from Utah,

Houston, Oklahoma City, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Pacers will send their 2026 choice to the Raptors; however,

it is protected 1-4. The Raptors added to their stash of Draft assets with the acquisition of a 2024 second-round pick (via Detroit) in the Barrett trade.

It seems doubtful that Siakam will make his debut for the Pacers on January 18 when they play in Sacramento (10 ET, NBA League Pass), according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.

The Pacers,

who started the game ranked sixth in the Eastern Conference, will now start Siakam next to All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.

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