It’s the end of an era in Toronto.
The Raptors have agreed to trade All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.
Toronto will reportedly get back Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round draft picks in the deal.
The Pelicans are also involved in the trade, sending Kira Lewis and a second-round pick to the Raptors, according to ESPN.
The deal is still pending league approval.
The 29-year-old Siakam reportedly “is excited about the deal to the Pacers and expected to be eager to work out a new contract with the franchise this summer.”
Siakam was the last remaining member of the roster from Toronto’s 2019 team that brought the city its first-ever championship.
Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors dribbles during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on December 22, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
The Raptors made a big trade on Wednesday.
“Pascal is just a pure basketball junkie,” Toronto coach Darko Rajaković said Wednesday night before his team played the Miami Heat. “He is the first one to show up in the gym, the last one to leave. He was always coachable, always professional since Day 1. … I can only be thankful and grateful for all of his contributions to our team this season.”
News of Wednesday’s trade comes just weeks after the Raptors traded OG Anunoby to the Knicks at the end of December.
He was also part of the Raptors’ 2019 championship team.
Earlier this month, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported that Siakam was expected to get dealt before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks to drive the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the first quarter at Delta Center on January 12, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConSiakam is having a solid season, averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 39 games, while shooting 52.2 percent from the floor and 31.7 percent on 3-pointers.
He is in the final year of his contract, which pays him nearly $38 million this season, and becomes eligible this summer to sign a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $247 million. The Pacers are expected to at least consider giving Siakam such a deal.
In a pairing with point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who emerged as a potential dark horse MVP candidate, the new-look Pacers can be real contenders in the eastern conference with Siakam.
A first-round pick (27th overall) by Toronto in the 2016 NBA draft, Siakam is a two-time NBA All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection.
Later Wednesday, the Pacers waived veteran forward James Johnson. He had appeared in five games with Indiana since getting signed in mid-December.
— With AP
