The Raptors and Pacers are engaged in serious discussions about a trade that would send power forward Pascal Siakam to Indiana, The Athletic’s Shams Charania and Sam Amick report.
Indiana’s package is 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 his salary is well below Siakam’s, the Pacers have approximately $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).
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.
