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Prior to the reported transaction on Wednesday, ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam had a conversation with Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers over Siakam’s desire to join the unexpected challengers in the NBA Eastern Conference.
Per Wojnarowski, the Raptors were extremely concerned that Siakam would have left Toronto in free agency and signed a contract with the Pacers at no cost as they approach the beginning of their window to challenge for a title.
According to sources on Wednesday, Siakam will join Haliburton in Indiana, creating one of the NBA’s most potent two-way combos. Along with Bruce Brown Jr. and Jordan Nwora, the Pacers also surrendered three first-round draft picks to Toronto at the same time.
As the Raptors faced the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, without Siakam in the starting lineup, Wojnarowski stated on ESPN, “Two really important reasons, start with the fact that Pascal Siakam is exactly what this Pacers team needs, a dynamic forward who can guard four positions, a two-time all-star and played a significant role in that championship team in Toronto.”
Tyrese Haliburton is currently leading the way for this organization, thus he fits perfectly in with an Indiana squad that is performing ahead of plan.
The 29-year-old Cameroonian has apparently expressed a strong desire to join the basketball team and help them win a Larry O’Brien trophy, even if his signing as a Pacer has not yet been formally announced.
The Raptors lack this tool as they continue their rebuild, while the Pacers have some wiggle room under their salary ceiling and are apparently confident in their ability to re-sign Siakam beyond the 2023–24 campaign.
Tyrese Haliburton and Siakam had discussed this process, and the Pacers were aware of Siakam’s strong desire to play in Indiana. Wojnarowski continued, “India had an advantage over Toronto; they have cap room this summer. The Raptors, meanwhile, continue to advance in the 2024 season as they approach the second half of their schedule, which included three games versus the Pacers.
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