Reports: Indiana Pacers have 'reached out' about Pascal Siakam trade with Toronto Raptors

Siakam was an All-Star last season for the Raptors

Multiple reports published earlier this week connected the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors to a possible trade involving All-Star forward Pascal Siakam.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet was the first person to publish a report connecting the Pacers and Siakam. Grange reported on Siakiam's absence from the Raptors in Summer League settings and added details surrounding a possible deal.

"Per league sources, the Raptors are still listening, trying to gauge the market value for their leading scorer and leading returning – in theory – playmaker. Atlanta remains a possibility, Indiana has reached out while Orlando is another team that bears watching," Grange reported.

The Pacers front office has shared multiple times this year that they have tried to be aggressive in going after a strong upgrade. President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard noted it just after the trade deadline, and general manager Chad Buchanan detailed the teams pursuits just after the NBA Draft.

"We were very, very aggressive pursuing a group of about five or six guys that would fit our timeline and fill a positional need. Unfortunately, those guys were not available," Buchanan said.  

Siakam, 29, is likely on the older side of the Pacers timeline, but he is an elite talent and would fill a positional need on the Pacers' roster. He can play the three or the four, meaning he could fit in bigger or smaller lineups and alongside first-round pick Jarace Walker. Siakam spent much of this past season playing next to Scottie Barnes.

The Raptors forward was an All-Star last year, and he has made an All-NBA team twice before. In the 2022-23 campaign, he averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. His ability to do a little bit of everything at the forward spots and play in transition would make him a strong fit in Indiana.

If the Pacers felt like he could play alongside Walker or the recently-acquired Obi Toppin, then having interest in the forward would make sense. But how much interest the Pacers should have is trickier to say.

Siakam only has one year remaining on his contract, and Chris Haynes of Turner Sports and Bleacher Report shared in late June via Twitter that Siakam's preference is to remain with Toronto long term. If that is the case, then trading for the All-Star could be considered a one-year rental, and that would knock his trade price down.

There’s growing sentiment Toronto star Pascal Siakam — who’s on an expiring deal — would not re-sign with a team who attempts to trade for him as his preference is to remain with the Raptors, sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 22, 2023

The New Mexico State product is set to make nearly $37.9 million this season, so the Pacers (or any other team) would have to send out at least $30.2 million to make a trade work within the new Collective Bargaining Agreement's salary matching rules for trades. That's a lot of salary to put together and would require at least two or three players outgoing from Indiana, and that doesn't even include draft picks. It's a difficult trade package to put together.

Without some assurance that Siakam would sign an extension after being acquired — and he is eligible to have his salary bumped up to his maximum in 2024-25 via a veteran extension that could be up to four years in length — it's difficult to imagine a team surrendering several assets for the Toronto forward. He is talented, though, and would make every team in the NBA better.

Marc Stein of The Stein Line also reported that the Pacers could be a trade partner for Siakam. "The Indiana Pacers, league sources say, have emerged as a legitimate trade contender for Siakam," he said in a newsletter published on Monday.

Siakam's talent makes him a player worth pursuing, but his contract situation makes things complicated. If the Pacers were further along in their build, they could be more willing to take a risk on a rental. But as it stands, they may need to know if Siakam would be willing to lengthen his contract with Indiana before doing any deals.

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