JANUARY 17: Several parties familiar with the negotiations between the Raptors and Pacers were surprised that the two teams didn’t finalize an agreement before Tuesday’s games begin, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
One sticking point, per Fischer, has been Indiana’s unwillingness to include either of their two most recent lottery picks – Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker – in a package for Siakam. Charania has also stated that the Pacers aren’t interested in giving up either of those young players (Twitter video link).
According to Fischer, the other pieces that would be sent to Toronto along with Brown in the latest framework of the proposed deal are Jordan Nwora and either Obi Toppin or Jalen Smith. Buddy Hield hasn’t been a part of the recent discussions between the two teams, says Fischer.
Fischer adds that two of the first-round picks in in Indiana’s proposal are 2024 selections (the Pacers’ own pick and a least favorable pick from Oklahoma City).
JANUARY 16: The Raptors and Pacers are engaged in serious talks about a potential trade that would send power forward Pascal Siakam to Indiana, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick report.
Indiana’s package would be built around swingman Bruce Brown, other salaries and three first-round draft picks, according to The Athletic’s duo.
The Raptors have discussed potential deals involving Siakam with several teams, but the talks with the Pacers have gained traction in recent days. They have yet to finalize or agree to a deal, although they are far along in the process, with proposals being made back and forth.
The Kings had pulled out of the Siakam sweepstakes in recent weeks, in part because the two-time All-NBA forward reportedly isn’t interested in re-signing with them after the season. The Warriors and Mavericks are among the other clubs that have expressed interest in the 29-year-old.
Siakam has an expiring $37.9MM contract and any acquiring team would want to have a strong indication if he’d commit to their organization beyond this season. Siakam is known to be seeking a max-salary deal and extension talks between the Raptors and his reps have not progressed in recent months.
Brown’s contract features a $22MM cap hit this season with a $23MM club option for 2024/25. Although Brown’s salary is well below Siakam’s, the Pacers have over $8MM in cap room and would only need to send out about $7.6MM in additional salary to make a deal legal, notes cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link).
As for the draft picks, the Pacers control all of their own future first-rounders, as well as a 2024 pick from Oklahoma City that includes “least favorable” language — it will almost certainly be either the Thunder’s or Clippers’ first-rounder.
The potential acquisition of Siakam would strengthen a Pacers starting lineup that also includes star guard Tyrese Haliburton — currently injured — and center Myles Turner and would make them a more dangerous playoff team.
Indiana reportedly made an effort to acquire OG Anunoby from Toronto before he was sent to New York.
Let’s go, ready for the Raos retool
Would’ve preferred Kuminga, but 3 FRP is more than I expected.
2 more
personally, Raos marinara is way overrated.
Have you tried the roasted garlic? Highly recommended.
The length & versatility of a team w/ guys like Siakam, Haliburton, Myles & Mathurin is crazy but how about Ujiri turning a late 1st rd pick into Siakam which has become the gift that keeps on giving with his playoff performance in 2019, his all-NBA level play since then & now paying off in the form of multiple future 1sts. And not only that but they replace his championship exp with a slightly lesser/smaller version of Siakam in Bruce Brown
I love Bruce Brown as a player, but maybe settle down a bit with the Siakim comparisons.
IMO Knicks could have expanded the deal Randle and Picks for Siakam as well as OG
Raps didn’t want Randle, there would have needed to be a third team who was interested in Julius to get involved.
‘slightly lesser version of Siakam’ lmao. Siakam has averaged about 21/7/5 over the last five seasons. Brown’s career highs in any season are 12.1/5.4/4.0. Come on.
I think he meant championship experience and vet leadership. He’s not Siakam. We all know @Sankara gets carried away.
I am excited for this to be over honestly
Three 1st round picks for a guy that is expiring amd wants to test free agency? Quite the gamble for what could be a 3-4 rental.
Exactly. If he was under contract for another couple of seasons I could maybe see 3 FRP’s, but not for an expiring contract. Also not sure he is worth the max he is looking for, and apparently neither do the Raptors.
Indiana has the space to sign him long term so they likely have already talked to his agent about extending for that price
Indiana about to fumble
Three FRPs? Are they out of their mind?
For Siakam and then max him?
I guess the rationale is “we can’t sign a better player over the next X years anyway” and they won’t have the salaries to trade soon.
Brown, Buddy to a 3rd team for a FRP to Toronto, and another FRP from Indy. And maybe swap. Three FRPs is steep for an expiring contract.
Same thing as the Kings, why not target Grant?
You think someone’s coughing up a FRP for Buddy freakin’ Hield?
Felt for awhile only IND and DET were motivated to make a real offer.
Still, I’d be interested to see what FRPs that IND actually offered, assuming the report is accurate. I just doubt that it’s 3 unprotected FRPs. More like one is the FRP that’s the lesser of 4 teams 2024 picks (two of those teams are OKC and LAC), and the other two have some form of protection as well.
Yup
Detroit were desperate enough to trade for Blake, I sense deja vu.
It’ll probably be the least favorable of this years draft, next year’s pick and 2027, I’d expect light protections as well, like top 6 protected
I would do the opposite. Waive J Johnson. Offer Jerace Walker and Jalen Smith to NOP for Jonas V, Liddel and picks. Then Offer Myles Turner, Nwora and Lidell to GS for Kuminga, Moody, Jackson-Davis and Payton. Then Payton with a pick for Wiseman. Sign Johnson back. Rotations. PG. Hali, McConnell, Nembhard SG. Heild, Mathurin, Moody SF. Brown, Nesmith, Sheppard PF. Obi, Kuminga, Jackson-Davis C. Jonas V, Wiseman, Jackson. Waive Wong of two way, sign Kai Jones on two way contract or
I think they’re trying to win now. Haliburton and Siakam is close to Tatum and Brown. I like Indys depth better
I just think Siakam is not on their time line. They have built a nice team already but they are going to rush it like Atlanta did a couple years ago and hinder everything. No need to rush it just because all of sudden they have won some games. They just need to add a little more. I would look at someone else or set the standard higher. Let them get trigger happy though and lose what they have been building. Hali is 23 and Siakam is about to be 30. They should find a better deal out there. Jabari Smith jr or somebody else. Atlanta did this with Trey, they signed Galo and others and now they have a revolving door. I would look at players around Hali’s age.
You’re right. Reading that made me cry.
Bruce Bruce, Walker, Nesmith for Siakam and it’s a deal.
I don’t watch any Indy games so asking their fans for a scouting report on: Brown, Toppin, J Smith. I think these are the players coming back. Siakam is a great player, not a superstar but fits well on almost all teams. He’ll definitely fit on Indy and make them a better team. He can score, defend, and pass. He’s a perfect 2-3 option on a top team and he can sometimes dominate games. He’s got a ring and playoff experience. I think Indy fans will love him regardless of what they give up and he will def make them a better team. Even if walker or mathurin go to TO, Indy will be in a much better “win now” mode and a top 4 team in the east.
Siakam doesn’t fit Indiana’s timeline. Indiana is about to pull a Hawks move and mess everything up. Don’t rush and go all in. Looking back this will hinder everything. Let’s burn this motherfckr down. Build off what you have and not go all in like the Hawks 3 years ago
Siakam on the Pacers is a big upgrade. Definitely puts them on track to top of East teams. I believe that’s a fair offer. I’d want Obi1 added. They just better make sure they can sign him.
It helps, but still don’t think it makes them a contender. A spoiler, sure, but that’s already their role.