Pacers and Raptors reportedly on precipice of blockbuster Pascal Siakam trade

The Feb. 8 may still several weeks away, but that hasn’t stopped the from getting active in overhauling their roster. Just over two weeks after to the , Toronto is now reportedly on the verge of shipping Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers. Shams Charania and Sam Amick of are reporting that the Raptors and Pacers are in “active talks” on a deal that would send Siakam — a mainstay in the rumor mill for several seasons now — to Indiana in exchange for three first round picks: Developing: The Raptors and Pacers are in active talks on a trade centered on two time All Star Pascal Siakam for package that includes three first round picks, league sources say.

Full details at with : Bruce Brown Jr. would likely be the majority of the salary filler going from the Pacers, but they would still likely need to add about $8 million in salary to make this trade legal (for example, T.J. McConnell’s inclusion would make it work, although story does not report any additional names beyond Brown).

Charania and Amick’s story does not mention which first round picks would be involved, but Indiana currently owns a 2024 first round pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, L.A. Clippers or Utah Jazz (it’s an extremely complicated swap, the details of which can be ), 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 picks, meaning they have a bit of a pick surplus as they continue to build around ascending star Tyrese Halliburton.

But even if one of those reported firsts is the janky swap one, it’s still a steep price to pay for Siakam — who can be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season — but as a non glamor destination smaller market, Indiana may feel that’s what they have to do to get a running mate for Halliburton who can help them win now.

And while we would obviously never suggest that tampering happens in the NBA, it would seem likely that Siakam’s reps at Life Sports Agency (which also ) have some sort of understanding with Indiana about Siakam’s future if the Pacers are willing to pay such a hefty price in draft capital to bring him in for half a season.

For the Raptors, this deal would firmly cement their retool for the future around Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley moving forward. That is not certain. Earlier this month, that the Raptors and Kings were “ramping up trade talks” centered around Siakam before reporting later the same day that the Kings had “pulled out of the Pascal Siakam trade talks,” which we can guess was likely due to Siakam letting it be known he would not stay in Sacramento.

It’s always possible we get a similar leak here, but for now, it seems quite possible Siakam will be a Pacer soon..