An NBA insider revealed what people are saying about the Indiana Pacers’ chances of re-signing Pascal Siakam this summer, and it is hugely positive news for the team’s fanbase.
Earlier this week, the Pacers broke away from the norms of the franchise and made a rare blockbuster trade before this year’s NBA trade deadline. With the team off to a strong start and just two games out of the fourth spot in the Eastern Conference, they added a major impact piece in Toronto Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam.
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While the two-time All-Star won’t fix their issues on defense, it gives the team a legitimate top-flight second-scoring option to go along with Tyrese Haliburton when he returns from a hamstring injury. The Pacers were viewed as a serious team already, but now with a pair of 20-plus point scorers in the starting lineup, they could be a very dangerous team in the playoffs.
However, there is a real chance the Pacers improved potential is short-lived. The reason the Raptors traded away one of their greatest homegrown talents of all time is that he is set to be a free agent this summer and was not going to sign an extension before testing his value on the open market.
- Pascal Siakam stats (2023-24): 22.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 32% 3 PT
After eight seasons in the league, Siakam will be looking to cash in this summer and land the biggest contract of his career. Indiana has never been known for giving out huge contracts, especially to players who weren’t long-time stars for the team, so there is good reason to believe the combo of Haliburton and Siakam will be a short-term thing.
Pascal Siakam ‘a lock’ to re-sign with the Indiana Pacers
Well, it seems that just like the Indiana Pacers switched things up by making a blockbuster in-season trade, they are expected to do what is necessary to keep this new and talented core together for many more seasons to come.
On Thursday, NBA insider Marc Stein reported in a new edition of his Substack newsletter that “Rival teams are already operating under the belief that Siakam is a lock to re-sign with the Pacers this summer.”
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That is massive news for the Pacers since Siakam was previously seen as one of the best available free agents this offseason and was likely a top target for many teams. If organizations are already game-planning that he is not an option that says a lot about the whispers of the Indiana’s intentions for Siakam this summer.