The Feb. 8 NBA commerce deadline should a number of weeks away, however that hasn’t stopped the Toronto Raptors from getting energetic in overhauling their roster. Simply over two weeks after sending O.G. Anunoby to the New York Knicks, Toronto is now reportedly on the verge of delivery Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers.
Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic are reporting that the Raptors and Pacers are in “energetic talks” on a deal that will ship Siakam — a mainstay within the rumor mill for a number of seasons now — to Indiana in change for 3 first-round picks:
Replace on Wednesday: In line with Yahoo Sports activities NBA insider Jake Fischer, the talks have been to this point alongside that it left “a number of events accustomed to the negotiations stunned no settlement or finality got here earlier than video games started that night.” Fischer additionally reported the latest state of the commerce package deal:
One deadlock that’s been on the heart of conversations between Indiana and Toronto concerning Siakam, in keeping with league sources, has been the Pacers’ unwillingness to incorporate second-year guard and former lottery choose Bennedict Mathurin, along with the No. 8 choose in final June’s draft, Jarace Walker, an athletic ahead out of Houston. On Tuesday, the Pacers’ newest outgoing framework included 25-year-old reserve shooter Jordan Nwora, league sources advised Yahoo Sports activities, with the ultimate wage wanted to match Siakam’s $37.8 million quantity being both Obi Toppin or Jalen Smith. Two of the picks on the desk from Indiana are the pair of 2024 first-round picks the Pacers have of their cabinet, sources stated. Aaron Nesmith’s $5.6 million wage would additionally characterize a match for Siakam’s determine, along with Brown and Nwora.
Sources: Jordan Nwora was a part of the newest Indiana package deal that includes Bruce Brown Jr. for the Pacers’ efforts to land All-NBA expertise Pascal Siakam from the Raptors on Tuesday.
Different particulars on these negotiations and extra from round league @YahooSports: https://t.co/drIBzATDEX
— Jake Fischer (@JakeLFischer) January 17, 2024
Fischer’s story Wednesday makes it clear that this isn’t a finished deal but, and provides that the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors have additionally been engaged in talks centered round Siakam.
As Charania and Amick initially reported, Bruce Brown Jr. would doubtless be the vast majority of the wage filler going from the Pacers, however Indiana would nonetheless doubtless want so as to add about $8 million in wage to make this commerce authorized, therefore the names Fischer will get into above.
Former Grizzlies government John Hollinger provided up two different hypothetical commerce packages that will work on the location previously referred to as Twitter:
Re: Indy-Siakam report by our @ShamsCharania : Brown-Nwora-Toppin will get you to a wage match; Nwora not often performs and Siakam would exchange Toppin, and all three are expiring (Tm-opt on Brown). Indy may additionally take Otto Porter into cap room as a part of a commerce.
— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) January 17, 2024
What picks can the Pacers ship?
Charania and Amick’s story doesn’t point out which first-round picks could be concerned, however Indiana presently owns a 2024 first-round choose from the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, Houston Rockets, L.A. Clippers or Utah Jazz (it’s a particularly difficult swap, the small print of which may be examine right here), in addition to their very own 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 picks, which means they’ve a little bit of a choose surplus as they proceed to construct round ascending star Tyrese Halliburton.
However even when a kind of reported firsts is the janky swap one — and one or two of the Pacers’ personal are protected — it’s nonetheless a steep value to pay for Siakam, who may be an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season. Nevertheless, as a non-glamor vacation spot and smaller market, Indiana could really feel that’s what they should do to get a working mate for Halliburton who may help them win now.
And whereas we’d clearly by no means recommend that tampering occurs within the NBA, it might appear doubtless that Siakam’s reps at Life Sports activities Company (which additionally reps Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard) have some type of understanding with Indiana about Siakam’s future if the Pacers are prepared to pay such a hefty value in draft capital to convey him in for half a season.
For the Raptors, this deal would firmly cement their retool for the longer term round Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley transferring ahead.
Will this deal truly occur?
That isn’t sure. Earlier this month, Charania reported that the Raptors and Kings have been “ramping up commerce talks” centered round Siakam earlier than reporting later the identical day that the Kings had “pulled out of the Pascal Siakam commerce talks,” which we are able to guess was doubtless attributable to Siakam letting or not it’s recognized he wouldn’t keep in Sacramento. It’s at all times potential we get an identical leak right here, however Charania reported on Wednesday that the Pacers suppose they will retain Siakam:
“The Pacers don’t need to commerce Bennedict Mathurin or Jarace Walker… that is why you see these 3 first spherical draft picks. They really feel fairly strongly about attempting to re-sign [Pascal] Siakam as a free agent.”
– Shams Charania
(through @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/Op9Q3xUTNE
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 17, 2024
So whereas the deal hasn’t occurred but, it nonetheless appears fairly potential Siakam might be a Pacer quickly if either side can navigate the small hurdles left.
This breaking information story could also be up to date with extra info and evaluation because it continues to develop. For extra on the Raptors’ perspective on this transfer, try Raptors HQ.
