The three-way deal was reached, Siakam left, and the Eastern dark horse gambled on the first round of 3
According to Woj of The Athletic, the Raptors, Pelicans and Pacers struck a three-way trade that shook the basketball community. The deal involved a major shift in players and draft picks, and was like dropping a bombshell on the basketball world. Here's how it works: The Pacers send Bruce Brown, Walla and three valuable first-round picks to the Raptors, and they'll get the talented Siakam. As a third party to the deal, the Pelicans sent young guard Kira Lewis Jr. to the Raptors and a second-round pick to the Pacers. This deal will not only change the futures of the three teams, but will also have a profound impact on the landscape of the entire basketball league.
According to follow-up reports, the Pacers sent away 2024 first-round picks (Pacers), 2024 first-round picks (Jazz/Rockets/Clippers/Thunder worst) and 2026 first-round picks (Pacers). The move shows the determination and ambition of the Pacers, who want to strengthen their team with this deal and achieve better results in the years to come.
Subsequently, well-known journalist Shams reported that sources revealed that the Pacers are optimistic about keeping Siakam in the long term if the trade goes through. Siakam's agent, Todd Ramasar, enthused: "I'm excited to see Siakam working with the Pacers with top players like Haliburton and Myles Turner. And their coach Carlisle is also an outstanding coach and the future of the team is bright. According to Woj, Siakam is extremely excited about joining the Pacers and wants to sign them to a new contract this summer. At that point, Siakam will be a free agent.
Meanwhile, Raptors reporter Michael Grange wrote a story about Raptors forward Siakam. According to the article, the Raptors offered Siakam the highest contract extension the team could give, for a three-year period with a total value of up to $125 million, which will run until the end of the 2026-2027 season. However, Siakam politely turned down the lucrative contract, aiming to be among the best NBA team again in the coming season, earning a four-year, $223 million super-cap contract.
According to sources, the Raptors made it clear in their communication with Siakam that the Raptors do not intend to offer Siakam a super-max contract, even if he can meet the super-max salary conditions (All-NBA). This means that the Raptors are more clear and calm about the future of the team, and they are not willing to sacrifice the future of the entire team for the sake of one player.
For the parties to this deal, they all have their own motives and purposes. The Pacers are looking to improve their squad by acquiring Siakam and build a competitive team around young players like Haliburton and Myles Turner. The Raptors, on the other hand, hope to trade Siakam to acquire more draft picks and young players to lay the groundwork for the team's rebuild. The Pelicans, for their part, cleared guard Kira Lewis Jr.'s contract with the deal and freed up more salary space for the team's future.
Overall, this three-way deal is beneficial for all parties. The Pacers can use Siakam's power to improve their team, the Raptors can accelerate the team's rebuild, and the Pelicans can better plan for the team's future. However, the exact impact of this deal remains to be seen, as it remains to be seen if Siakam can perform at his best with the Pacers. But either way, the deal will have a profound impact on the future basketball landscape.