Reviewing the Pascal Siakam Trade

Additionally, the New Orleans Pelicans turn this into a three team trade by sending guard Kira Lewis to the Raptors, while receiving a second round pick from the Pacers.

Siakam, who has spent his whole career since being drafted in 2016 with the 28th overall pick, gets a fresh start by being paired up with All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, and all-defensive caliber center Myles Turner.  

Siakam who is averaging 22.2 pts, 4.9 assists and 6.3 rebounds in 39 games played, will turn into a UFA at the end of the 2023-24 NBA season. His agent Todd Ramasar told Andscape that Siakam is “excited that he’s getting a first class opportunity with the Pacers... His future looks bright there”.

For now, it remains unclear if the forward intents to re-sign with the Pacers in the offseason, but they seem intent on being able to offer him a potential super max deal if Siakam makes any of the All-NBA teams at the end of the season.

The Raptors go from having one possible top 6 protected pick from San Antonio that was sent in the Jakob Poeltl deal last year, to possibly 3 first round picks, and an early 2nd round pick that New York had sent for Anunoby weeks prior.

With Bruce Brown being owed 22 million this season, it is unclear what the Raptors may do with the former 2023 NBA Champion, and would surely look to move him to another contender before the Feb 8th trade deadline for a return of possibly more picks, or a young asset to add to the roster.

The move allows for players such as Gradey Dick or Gary Trent Jr to access bigger roles with the team as Toronto looks to the future on the new era that is glooming over the franchise.

Toronto general managers Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster were worried about the possibility of losing Siakam in free agency for no return, after having lost All Star guard Fred VanVleet to the same fate as he signed with the Houston Rockets during last year’s free agency for a whopping 43 million dollars a year.

The Toronto Raptors have officially started its new era centered around a core of Scottie Barnes, and newly acquired R.J Barrett and Immanuel Quickley.

Tristan Novak