Reports: Raptors trade forward Pascal Siakam to Pacers

The Toronto Raptors have reportedly agreed to trade power forward Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers for three players and three future picks, according to multiple reports.

Raptors receive:

• Bruce Brown (via Pacers)
• Jordan Nwora (via Pacers)
• Kira Lewis (via Pelicans)
• Two 2024 first-round picks (via Pacers)
• 2026 first-round pick (via Pacers)

Pacers receive:

• Pascal Siakam (via Raptors)
• Future second-round pick (via Pelicans)

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the New Orleans Pelicans will also be involved in the deal. By adding Lewis to the deal, New Orleans allowed Indiana to match Siakam’s salary without including another player, per Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. The move puts the Pelicans in position to get below the luxury tax threshold.

BREAKING: The Indiana Pacers are finalizing a trade to acquire All-Star F Pascal Siakam in a deal that will send Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks to the Toronto Raptors. New Orleans will be a third team in deal, sending Kira Lewis to the Raptors.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2024

What this means:

The 29-year-old forward is averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 34.7 minutes per game this season. Siakam, who was selected 27th overall by the Raptors in the 2016 Draft, is shooting 52.2% from the field, 75.8% from the free-throw line and 31.7% from beyond the arc. He has averaged more than 20 points in five of his eight NBA seasons, while being named an All-Star twice (2020 and 2023) and All-NBA Second Team in 2020.

Siakam, who played a pivotal part in helping the Raptors capture the NBA title in 2019, has an expiring $37.9 million contract. Brown was signed by the Pacers in the offseason after he played an integral part in helping the Denver Nuggets to the NBA championship in 2023. He has enjoyed a bigger role in Indiana, as expected, posting career highs in scoring (12.1 PPG) and rebounding (4.7 RPG) while starting all 33 games he played there. He will join a Raptors frontcourt where he will likely start alongside Toronto’s other recent addition, RJ Barrett, whom the team acquired in a trade with the New York Knicks on Dec. 30.

Nwora appeared in 18 games for the Pacers this season, averaging 5.2 PPG and 1.8 RPG in a reserve role, while Lewis (2.9 PPG, 1.2 RPG) has played in 15 games for the Pelicans this season. Per Wojnarowski, the 2024 picks Toronto is getting is Indiana’s own as well as one via the worst of Utah’s, Houston’s, Oklahoma City’s and the LA Clippers’. The 2026 pick sent to the Raptors will be the Pacers’ pick but is protected 1-4, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

In the Barrett trade, the Raptors received a 2024 second-round pick (via Detroit), adding to their cache of Draft assets. Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated reports that it appears unlikely Siakam will make his debut on Jan. 18 for the Pacers’ game in Sacramento.

The Pacers entered Thursday at No. 6 in the Eastern Conference and now get to pair Siakam alongside All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.