The dust has settled! Sika has officially teamed up with Haliburton! The Warriors have suffered a double blow, and Curry has a harder time
On January 18, Beijing time, the biggest fish in the free market at the trade deadline of this season: Siakam's whereabouts were settled! Toronto Raptors All-Star forward Siakam was finally traded to the Indiana Pacers. At this point, where are Siakam going, the finale is officially ushered in!
According to ESPN, sources have revealed that the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and New Orleans Pelicans have reached a three-way deal. The Pacers sent Bruce Brown + Walla + three first-round picks to the Raptors to get Siakam. The Pelicans, who traded for a third-party team, sent guard Kira Lewis Jr. to the Raptors and a second-round pick to the Pacers. It is reported that the draft picks sent by the Pacers are the 2024 first-round pick (from the Pacers), the 2024 first-round pick (for the worst team in Jazz/Rockets/Clippers/Thunder), and the top four first-round picks in 2026 (from the Pacers).
With the Pacers, Raptors, and Pelicans officially reaching a three-way deal, this is also a complete announcement of the Golden State Warriors' official exit! Previously, the Warriors and Siakam trade can be said to be closely linked, and some people even think that Sika's next stop is to join forces with Curry to create a big scene. But with the Pacers' cross-knife shot, this ruthlessly shattered Curry's grand plan to team up with Sika to save the Warriors! Because Siakam is considered a key player in helping the Warriors turn things around, but he has now been traded to the Pacers.
The reason why the Pacers were able to stand out in the Sika trade is most directly related to Haliburton's rise to fame. Because of the existence of Haliburton, many stars in the league regard the Pacers as the ideal home, which may be the fundamental reason why Siakam finally chose to be traded to the Pacers! Because the Raptors almost reached a deal with the Kings before, but Siakam bluntly said that he would not renew his contract even if he was traded to the Kings. Eventually, the Kings had to give up on a Siakam deal with the Raptors!
Of course, as a star of Siakam's rank, it will not be easy to get him on board! after all, he is the biggest star on the free market at the trade deadline, and he has many options to get his team. It was Haliburton himself who lobbied to impress Sika, and he finally decided to join the Pacers.
Sika is excited to join the Pacers and hopes to sign a contract extension with the Pacers this summer, with Siakam set to become a free agent this July, according to a report from ESPN. It is reported that the Pacers will retain Siakam's bird rights, and he can sign up to a five-year, $247 million max contract extension with the Pacers this offseason.
Sika joined the Pacers and teamed up with Haliburton, which undoubtedly strangled the Warriors' dream of spring and autumn in the cradle, and ultimately left Curry with continued helplessness and disappointment! As everyone knows, missing Siakam joining is just a blow to the Warriors! At the same time, they also suffered another heavy blow, that is, Warriors assistant coach Milojevic died of a heart attack! According to European media Eurohoops, after many media, The Warriors officially confirmed that the Serbian assistant coach of the Warriors, Milojevic, died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Siakam, the star he loved, joined the Pacers and teamed up with Haliburton, and the team's assistant coach Milojevic died of a heart attack, which can be described as a double blow to the Warriors! In this way, it will be difficult for the Warriors to replicate the magic of the Lakers' turnaround at the trade deadline last season! Next, Curry will continue to suffer from the torture of being alone. Perhaps, the bell of the Warriors' rebuilding is about to be ringed!