The Pacers and Toronto Raptors are finalizing a deal that will send All-Star forward Pascal Siakam to Indiana in exchange for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round draft picks, ESPN and The Athletic reported Wednesday.
Two of the first rounders are 2024 picks — one of which is Indiana’s — and the third is 2026 from the Pacers, per ESPN. The other 2024 first-rounder is the lesser of a Utah/Houston/Oklahoma City pick, according to ESPN.
The New Orleans Pelicans, the third team in the deal, are sending Kira Lewis Jr. to the Raptors and a second-round pick to Indiana, per ESPN’s report.
Siakam’s agent Todd Ramasar confirmed the trade in comments to another media outlet.
“I’m excited that Pascal is getting a first class opportunity with the Pacers, being paired with Tyrese (Haliburton) and Myles (Turner) and being coached by a great coach in Rick Carlisle,” Ramasar told Andscape.
Siakam, 29, is in the final year of a four-year, $136.9 million contract. He’s set to hit free agency in 2024-25 barring an extension with the Pacers. ESPN reported that Siakam is eager to work out a new deal with the Pacers in the summer.
The two-time All-Star is averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 39 starts this season. He’s shooting 52.2 percent from the floor. He has played all seven-plus seasons in Toronto. He averages 17.4 points for his career. He was selected No. 27 overall by the Raptors in the 2016 draft.
Brown, 27, was in his first season with the Pacers after winning a title with the Denver Nuggets last season. He’s averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 33 games (all starts) this season. The Raptors will be his fourth team in six seasons in the league.
Nwora, 25, is averaging 5.2 points in 18 games (no starts) this season.
Lewis, 22, is averaging 2.9 points in 15 games (no starts) this season. The Pelicans selected him No. 13 overall in the 2020 draft.
–Field Level Media