Woj: Raptors trade Pascal Siakam to Pacers for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis and 3 first round picks

[SelfishPlayer]

I'm really happy for small market teams like OKC and Indiana bringing excitement to their fans and NBA in general. Good times!

The ratings will not like small market teams lacking a true superstar.

Haliburton is a true superstar. He’s leading all guards in the East in All-Star voting by a mile.

How is attendance at road games for him?

[Nuntius]

The ratings will not like small market teams lacking a true superstar.

Thankfully, both Indiana and OKC do have a true superstar

I guess to true fans they could be, but they both aren't exciting to casuals.

Ah, if you're talking about casual fans then fair enough.

[MemphisX]

I'm really happy for small market teams like OKC and Indiana bringing excitement to their fans and NBA in general. Good times!

The ratings will not like small market teams lacking a true superstar.

Haliburton is a true superstar. He’s leading all guards in the East in All-Star voting by a mile.

So no playoff success needed?

[GeorgeSears]

Siakam has a chance to play with a potentially generational talent in Haliburton, and whenever you get that opportunity you have to resign.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I don't think the Pacers are done. They didn't include Walker and don't have a role for him.

I don't believe the Pacers plan to trade Walker, they've always been okay developing him on their own timeline. Plus, he is capable of playing 3 as well, which we don't really have at the moment, so its not like he has not chance at a future with us.

That isn't to say they won't trade Walker. I think another move is certainly possible, but I believe the Pacers still have high hopes for Walker being a core part of their team.

[jowglenn]

The ratings will not like small market teams lacking a true superstar.

Haliburton is a true superstar. He’s leading all guards in the East in All-Star voting by a mile.

So no playoff success needed?

Needed for what? Haliburton is a true superstar and the playoff success will come. I think the ratings will be fine with a guy who leads the league in assists and runs the highest octane offense ever seen. Maybe you just like ragging on small market teams?

[Capn'O]

I don't think the Pacers are done. They didn't include Walker and don't have a role for him.

I don't believe the Pacers plan to trade Walker, they've always been okay developing him on their own timeline. Plus, he is capable of playing 3 as well, which we don't really have at the moment, so its not like he has not chance at a future with us.

That isn't to say they won't trade Walker. I think another move is certainly possible, but I believe the Pacers still have high hopes for Walker being a core part of their team.

As always, depends what's out there

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

If Siakam is so good tell me why he's relegated to the current 4th option on the Raptors. Why didn't Masai want to give him a bag? He's a solid 3 point shooter and defender who doesn't give you much else at this stage of his career. Maybe I'm missing something but watching him play this season has left me anything but impressed

IDK bro , Raptors fans acting like they just traded prime Lebron

Pacers fans acting like they just got prime Lebron

It’s madness

There isn't a single Pacers fan acting like we just got prime LeBron. Not one. In fact, not one Pacers fan is acting like we got anything more than a good player to go with Haliburton.

If you need to lie to make a point, your point is probably moronic.

With the quality of your posts, I'm assuming you're just trolling, but if not....be better.

[Nuntius]

The ratings will not like small market teams lacking a true superstar.

Haliburton is a true superstar. He’s leading all guards in the East in All-Star voting by a mile.

So no playoff success needed?

Playoff success is always needed. But oftentimes, it is pretty evident when a player is a true superstar.

Take Wemby as an example. Is there any doubt that he's going to be a superstar, barring injuries? No, there isn't. Does he need to prove it in the playoffs? Of course. And he will when his team shifts gear towards trying to make the playoffs.

Same goes for Hali. He has spent his whole career so far in teams that wanted to tank. This is the first time in his career where his team aims to make the playoffs. Does Hali need to prove himself in the playoffs? Of course, he does. And he will prove himself.

It's not a matter of it. It's a matter of when.

[VanWest82]

I'm very curious to see if Siakam still wants to run like it's 2019. Raptors were near the bottom in pace the last couple years. That improved somewhat this year as they're currently 14th.

Pascal is still a demon in transition when he wants to be but he's turning 30. Sometimes guys in their 30s don't want to run as much.

In theory, I like this trade for Pacers. Not sure how they're going to improve their defense but they now have a lot of dudes.

[xBulletproof]

In theory, I like this trade for Pacers. Not sure how they're going to improve their defense but they now have a lot of dudes.

Been 15th or so since taking Buddy and Toppin out of the starting lineup.

But Siakam will help the defense. Last game we literally had Andrew Nembhard (6'5) guarding Lauri Markkanen. Defending big forwards has been the major issue defensively. We didn't have guys tall enough, or quick enough. We had to pick one and roll with the disadvantage. Siakam is at least both, even if he isn't an All Defense guy, he HAS to be an improvement on what we've been doing.

It's been Nesmith, Nembhard, and Jalen Smith guarding big forwards. Nesmith being able to guard 1-3 now will also be a big improvement.

[Dan Z]

Indiana now has four power forwards on their roster: Pascal Siakam, Jalen Smith, Jarace Walker (who they picked #8 in the 2023 draft) and Obi Toppin.

Is another trade on the horizon?

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Should I go ahead and start the "Jordan Nwora may be an All-Star caliber player!" thread now and save a Raptors fan the trouble?

[jowglenn]

Not for nothing, but it's worth pointing out that Pascal Siakam is the best player the Pacers have acquired in *decades*. Meaning, how good is the player at the time of acquisition? Haliburton wasn't yet an all-star when we acquired him.

The last comparable one is when we signed David West as a free agent in 2011; we made two Eastern Conference Finals with him.

Before that? I can't even think of one where we got a guy in his prime, or just after his prime. Stephen Jackson? Brad Miller???

[HMFFL]

Both teams filled needs.

Sent from my SM-N975U using RealGM mobile app

[Johnston]

I thought siakams value was Starter+Solid Prospect+1rp+filler.

I have a feeling Masai has a target in the 2024 draft, he was seen recently overseas scouting. 2 late firsts are meh but a lightly protected 2026 frp is solid. I wouldn't be surprised if he is accumulating draft capital to ensure he gets his guy.

[VanWest82]

In theory, I like this trade for Pacers. Not sure how they're going to improve their defense but they now have a lot of dudes.

Been 15th or so since taking Buddy and Toppin out of the starting lineup.

But Siakam will help the defense. Last game we literally had Andrew Nembhard (6'5) guarding Lauri Markkanen. Defending big forwards has been the major issue defensively. We didn't have guys tall enough, or quick enough. We had to pick one and roll with the disadvantage. Siakam is at least both, even if he isn't an All Defense guy, he HAS to be an improvement on what we've been doing.

It's been Nesmith, Nembhard, and Jalen Smith guarding big forwards. Nesmith being able to guard 1-3 now will also be a big improvement.

Guarding big forwards isn't Siakam's strength. Raptors have always had one of Kawhi, OG, or Scottie for that. Pascal is really good, when motivated, as a help defender covering ground and contesting shots on the perimeter, but not so good inside.

[Tor_Raps]

Does anyone have any info on Nwora or Lewis? Deciding on which jersey to order here lol

[xBulletproof]

In theory, I like this trade for Pacers. Not sure how they're going to improve their defense but they now have a lot of dudes.

Been 15th or so since taking Buddy and Toppin out of the starting lineup.

But Siakam will help the defense. Last game we literally had Andrew Nembhard (6'5) guarding Lauri Markkanen. Defending big forwards has been the major issue defensively. We didn't have guys tall enough, or quick enough. We had to pick one and roll with the disadvantage. Siakam is at least both, even if he isn't an All Defense guy, he HAS to be an improvement on what we've been doing.

It's been Nesmith, Nembhard, and Jalen Smith guarding big forwards. Nesmith being able to guard 1-3 now will also be a big improvement.

Guarding big forwards isn't Siakam's strength. Raptors have always had one of Kawhi, OG, or Scottie for that. Pascal is really good, when motivated, as a help defender covering ground and contesting shots on the perimeter, but not so good inside.

In todays NBA big forwards are on the perimeter mostly, not inside.

Besides that, like I said, all he has to be is not pathetic. Players of his build have been getting career/season highs on us for 2 years.

[JimmyPlopper]

Tyrese Haliburton / T.J. McConnell
Buddy Hield / Andrew Nembhard/ Ben Sheppard
Aaron Nesmith / Benedict Mathurin
Pascal Siakam / Obi Toppin / Jarace Walker / James Johnson
Myles Turner / Jalen Smith / Isaiah Jackson / Daniel Theis