Raptors trade Pascal Siakam to Pacers for Bruce Brown, 3 firsts

The Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors have completed a deal that will send forward Pascal Siakam to Indiana, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The deal sends the two-time All-Star and All-NBA selection to the Pacers, while Toronto receives Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks. The Raptors will also receive Kira Lewis from the New Orleans Pelicans, who will send a second-round pick to the Pacers.

This news comes after the Sacramento Kings backed out of the Siakam sweepstakes after he showed little interest in re-signing with the team after the season. 

Siakam, who is earning $29 million this year, is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. He's reportedly open to staying in Indiana beyond this season.

Tyrese Haliburton notably lobbied for stars to join him in Indy, and the Pacers just added one who should fit perfectly alongside their young star.

Siakam is averaging 22 points and should help a Pacers' offense that's already ranked No. 1 in the league and gets out in transition, while also adding another dimension by producing in the halfcourt. In a potential playoff setting where teams shrink the floor and defenses get tighter and prevent teams from getting out in the open court, the Pacers can benefit from Siakam’s half-court creation.

Indiana dealing Brown comes as somewhat of a surprise since the Pacers just signed the 6-foot-4 guard/forward to a three-year, $60 million deal over the offseason. Brown, a 2023 NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets, is currently averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists. 

The Pacers are currently 23-17, which is tied for the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference.