That the Toronto Raptors have accepted another historic contract is astonishing.
The Toronto Raptors reached an agreement on Wednesday afternoon that will see Pascal Siakam traded to the Pacers for three first-round selections, Bruce Brown Jr., and Jordan Nwora. In this transaction, the New Orleans Pelicans will also send Kira Lewis Jr. to Toronto and the Pacers a 2026 second-round pick. This is the second significant transaction in less than a month, following the trade of OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, and it will undoubtedly alter the Eastern Conference standings for the duration of the season. Let’s examine the implications of this agreement for both parties.
Breaking: The Indiana Pacers are closing in on a trade with the Toronto Raptors that will send Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round selections to the All-Star F Pascal Siakam. Kira Lewis will be sent to the Raptors by New Orleans, the third team in the trade.
— January 17, 2024, Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Trade Grades: Pacers and Raptors Agree on Pascal Siakam Trade: B- The Pacers, despite paying a premium, have at last acquired a star player to complement Tyrese Haliburton. After this season, Siakam will be a free agent, and there is no assurance that the two-time All-Star will decide to leave the team.
OUT: Bruce Brown Jr., Jordan Nwora, unprotected first-round pick in 2024, least-favorable first-round pick among the Rockets, Clippers, Jazz, and Thunder, and protected first-round pick in 2026 (1-4).
Brown, who averages 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, was the gem in the Pacers’ offseason trade. He has been an essential member of the starting lineup. Indiana will undoubtedly feel the loss of Brown’s versatile contributions on both sides of the court.
Nwora has averaged just 10.2 minutes per game in 18 games this season for the Pacers, a far cry from his 13 points per game average in 2022–2023.
Giving up three first round picks for Siakam, who turns 30 in April, is a huge risk for Indiana as he may decide to depart in the offseason. Given the abundance of young players already on the roster, the Pacers were always going to trade some of those picks, but trading three of their eight remaining first round picks until 2030 is a bold decision that will, for better or worse, determine the direction this club takes. This action also indicates the front office’s faith in players like Jarace Walker and Bennedict Mathurin, who were both strongly suspected of being involved in any possible trade for Siakam.
Pascal Siakam, a 2026 second-round pick, is IN.
Putting all the risk aside, Siakam will fit right in with Indiana’s explosive attack, which is expected to score the most points in NBA history. In the pick-and-roll, Siakam and Haliburton will be a formidable combination. With 9.4 PNR actions on average, Haliburton is producing 10.7 points per game on those possessions, which is the fifth-highest average in the league. Haliburton now has a weapon that he has never had in his four years in the NBA because to Siakam’s prowess in the mid-range and the paint.
Siakam and Myles Turner will work well together since Siakam can do the most of his damage inside the three-point line because to Turner’s floor spacing skills. Despite Siakam’s somewhat decent three-point shooting percentage of 32.7%, the Pacers have enough shooting to avoid the necessity for him to take many threes.
