The Indiana Pacers have “touched base” with the Toronto Raptors about trading for Pascal Siakam, according to NBA insider Scott Agness.
Siakam has one year left on his contract and the Raptors are aggressively gauging his market value.
“One player that appears to be available is Raptors forward Pascal Siakam,” Agness wrote. “There’s been a lot of questions regarding his future in Toronto in recent months. The Pacers are interested and have touched base with Raptors officials, per league sources.”
Siakam signed a four-year, $136 million rookie contract extension with the Raptors in October 2019. He will make $37.9 million next season and become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024. The talented small forward averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists last season while shooting 48.0% from the field, 32.4% from beyond the arc and 77.4% from the free-throw line.
Siakam has career averages of 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He won the 2019 championship and the 2018-19 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors & Indiana Pacers Updates
The Pacers, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2020, are trying to surround Tyrese Haliburton with more win-now talent, which is why they signed Bruce Brown in free agency and acquired Obi Toppin from the New York Knicks.
The Raptors lost the 9-10 play-in game to the Chicago Bulls and didn’t make the 2023 playoffs. Nick Nurse was fired as head coach and replaced by Darko Rajakovic. Fred VanVleet, who was close with Siakam, left the Raptors for the Houston Rockets in free agency.
Toronto is hesitant to offer Siakam a max contract extension, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. It’s worth mentioning that Siakam hasn’t shown up to Las Vegas to watch any Summer League games.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors & Indiana Pacers Updates
Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT reported in June that Siakam’s preference was to stay with the Raptors. However, things may have changed after Toronto didn’t offer Siakam a max contract extension.
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