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

[realball]

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.

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

[JimmyPlopper]

Dennis Schroeder / Immanuel Quickley / Kira Lewis Jr.
Bruce Brown / Grady Dick / Garrett Temple
R.J. Barrett / Gary Trent Jr. / Jordan Nwora
Scottie Barnes / Jalen McDaniels / Otto Porter
Jakob Poeltl/ Chris Boucher / Thaddeus Young

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

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

Buddy Hield will only start if injuries force him too.

The Pacers benched him and have not lost a game since when he's come off the bench. Injuries have forced him into the lineup and they've lost a few of those games, but when everyone is healthy, he's coming off the bench.

Turner
Siakam
Nesmith
Nembhard
Haliburton

That is what the starting lineup most likely will be, with Mathurin as 6th man.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

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.

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

Ha! Jokes on you!

The Pacers don't even know what the word rebound means.

[xBulletproof]

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

We have started Obi Toppin most of this season. I don't think some of you are really grasping how bad we've been at PF for a couple years. His per 100 rebounds is the same as Siakam actual average

[realball]

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

We have started Obi Toppin most of this season. I don't think some of you are really grasping how bad we've been at PF for a couple years. His per 100 rebounds is the same as Siakam actual average

Yeah, but you also started Bruce Brown, who averaged one rebound less than Siakam per 36. Toppin is almost averaging as many rebounds as Siakam this season per 36. So just temper your expectations there. Siakam's strengths lie elsewhere.

[links135]

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.

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

Maybe his motivation has been an issue, but he's been a brutallllllll defender this year. 10 blocks total as a 6"9 guy with a 7"3 wingspan. Doesn't really contest shots inside.

Isn't strong enough to be a solid post defender, has pretty slow foot speed for the perimeter and gets beat easily. Gets lost easily with offball defence and can't close out well when helping.

The fact he's only guarded a good player when there's no other choice says everything. IE Harris because Embiid is too big, Kuzma, which are his 2 notable matchups on the season.

He's a great scorer with a solid midrange pullup game, his shooting has finally been great in the last month, but like I said unless it was a motivation thing, he's been pretty ass on defence. Even 20 years ago without the 3ball era Duncan, Garnett, Wallace and Dirk would have absolutely wrecked him.

But Indiana will have a pretty deadly offence.

[xBulletproof]

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

We have started Obi Toppin most of this season. I don't think some of you are really grasping how bad we've been at PF for a couple years. His per 100 rebounds is the same as Siakam actual average

Yeah, but you also started Bruce Brown, who averaged one rebound less than Siakam per 36. Toppin is almost averaging as many rebounds as Siakam this season per 36. So just temper your expectations there. Siakam's strengths lie elsewhere.

It's like you guys are applying your own assumed tone to my responses and not actually reading them.

I said he has to just "not be pathetic" ..... how much more tempered can my expectations be?

[realball]

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.

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

Maybe his motivation has been an issue, but he's been a brutallllllll defender this year. 10 blocks total as a 6"9 guy with a 7"3 wingspan. Doesn't really contest shots inside.

Isn't strong enough to be a solid post defender, has pretty slow foot speed for the perimeter and gets beat easily. Gets lost easily with offball defence and can't close out well when helping.

The fact he's only guarded a good player when there's no other choice says everything. IE Harris because Embiid is too big, Kuzma, which are his 2 notable matchups on the season.

He's a great scorer with a solid midrange pullup game, his shooting has finally been great in the last month, but like I said unless it was a motivation thing, he's been pretty ass on defence. Even 20 years ago without the 3ball era Duncan, Garnett, Wallace and Dirk would have absolutely wrecked him.

But Indiana will have a pretty deadly offence.

Siakam is not a shot-blocker, never has been. But when he is motivated, he plays great defense. And he's usually pretty motivated, but this was a contract year for him, he was more motivated to put up numbers.

[The-Stallion70]

So Indiana thinks Haliburton can be the main guy on a championship team? They need a third star, where are they getting him from?

[realball]

We have started Obi Toppin most of this season. I don't think some of you are really grasping how bad we've been at PF for a couple years. His per 100 rebounds is the same as Siakam actual average

Yeah, but you also started Bruce Brown, who averaged one rebound less than Siakam per 36. Toppin is almost averaging as many rebounds as Siakam this season per 36. So just temper your expectations there. Siakam's strengths lie elsewhere.

It's like you guys are applying your own assumed tone to my responses and not actually reading them.

I said he has to just "not be pathetic" ..... how much more tempered can my expectations be?

Well that's what I'm trying to tell you... if you were pathetic at rebounding before, you're probably still going to be pathetic at rebounding now. Don't expect to "not be pathetic".

Maybe Siakam goes back to averaging 8 boards, who knows.

[WentzerWuver]

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

Maybe his motivation has been an issue, but he's been a brutallllllll defender this year. 10 blocks total as a 6"9 guy with a 7"3 wingspan. Doesn't really contest shots inside.

Isn't strong enough to be a solid post defender, has pretty slow foot speed for the perimeter and gets beat easily. Gets lost easily with offball defence and can't close out well when helping.

The fact he's only guarded a good player when there's no other choice says everything. IE Harris because Embiid is too big, Kuzma, which are his 2 notable matchups on the season.

He's a great scorer with a solid midrange pullup game, his shooting has finally been great in the last month, but like I said unless it was a motivation thing, he's been pretty ass on defence. Even 20 years ago without the 3ball era Duncan, Garnett, Wallace and Dirk would have absolutely wrecked him.

But Indiana will have a pretty deadly offence.

Siakam is not a shot-blocker, never has been. But when he is motivated, he plays great defense. And he's usually pretty motivated, but this was a contract year for him, he was more motivated to put up numbers.

Opi Toppin can block shots...don't need Siakam to do it all.

[Spates]

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

Maybe his motivation has been an issue, but he's been a brutallllllll defender this year. 10 blocks total as a 6"9 guy with a 7"3 wingspan. Doesn't really contest shots inside.

Isn't strong enough to be a solid post defender, has pretty slow foot speed for the perimeter and gets beat easily. Gets lost easily with offball defence and can't close out well when helping.

The fact he's only guarded a good player when there's no other choice says everything. IE Harris because Embiid is too big, Kuzma, which are his 2 notable matchups on the season.

He's a great scorer with a solid midrange pullup game, his shooting has finally been great in the last month, but like I said unless it was a motivation thing, he's been pretty ass on defence. Even 20 years ago without the 3ball era Duncan, Garnett, Wallace and Dirk would have absolutely wrecked him.

But Indiana will have a pretty deadly offence.

Siakam is not a shot-blocker, never has been. But when he is motivated, he plays great defense. And he's usually pretty motivated, but this was a contract year for him, he was more motivated to put up numbers.

We're going on 5 seasons now of Siakam being quite a neutral defensive player. His defensive effort has been pathetic compared to what he provided as a rookie up until the end of the title run. I would imagine he plays with effort being up for a new contract but his impact was largely hustle and motor. He hasn't had the same zip in years.

[realball]

So Indiana thinks Haliburton can be the main guy on a championship team? They need a third star, where are they getting him from?

They still have Hield, Mathurin, Nembhard, Walker, and more 1sts to trade.

[links135]

He will help the defense plenty. He's an excellent perimeter defender when he's locked in. But your rebounding is going to suffer.

Maybe his motivation has been an issue, but he's been a brutallllllll defender this year. 10 blocks total as a 6"9 guy with a 7"3 wingspan. Doesn't really contest shots inside.

Isn't strong enough to be a solid post defender, has pretty slow foot speed for the perimeter and gets beat easily. Gets lost easily with offball defence and can't close out well when helping.

The fact he's only guarded a good player when there's no other choice says everything. IE Harris because Embiid is too big, Kuzma, which are his 2 notable matchups on the season.

He's a great scorer with a solid midrange pullup game, his shooting has finally been great in the last month, but like I said unless it was a motivation thing, he's been pretty ass on defence. Even 20 years ago without the 3ball era Duncan, Garnett, Wallace and Dirk would have absolutely wrecked him.

But Indiana will have a pretty deadly offence.

Siakam is not a shot-blocker, never has been. But when he is motivated, he plays great defense. And he's usually pretty motivated, but this was a contract year for him, he was more motivated to put up numbers.

He was good with one of the greatest C defenders in Gasol behind him..... also it's a contract year but his pts are down? I wish him the best but let's not lie about who he is, its like expecting OG to be a great attack the rim guy.

[links135]

So Indiana thinks Haliburton can be the main guy on a championship team? They need a third star, where are they getting him from?

Oh they'll probably trade for Irving

[realball]

Maybe his motivation has been an issue, but he's been a brutallllllll defender this year. 10 blocks total as a 6"9 guy with a 7"3 wingspan. Doesn't really contest shots inside.

Isn't strong enough to be a solid post defender, has pretty slow foot speed for the perimeter and gets beat easily. Gets lost easily with offball defence and can't close out well when helping.

The fact he's only guarded a good player when there's no other choice says everything. IE Harris because Embiid is too big, Kuzma, which are his 2 notable matchups on the season.

He's a great scorer with a solid midrange pullup game, his shooting has finally been great in the last month, but like I said unless it was a motivation thing, he's been pretty ass on defence. Even 20 years ago without the 3ball era Duncan, Garnett, Wallace and Dirk would have absolutely wrecked him.

But Indiana will have a pretty deadly offence.

Siakam is not a shot-blocker, never has been. But when he is motivated, he plays great defense. And he's usually pretty motivated, but this was a contract year for him, he was more motivated to put up numbers.

He was good with one of the greatest C defenders in Gasol behind him..... also it's a contract year but his pts are down? I wish him the best but let's not lie about who he is, its like expecting OG to be a great attack the rim guy.

Not really, he has never averaged over a block a game, wasn't a good shot-blocker with Gasol... and his defense was good two years ago when we won 48 games. Probably the toughest year for him too because we were playing without a C.

[The-Stallion70]

So Indiana thinks Haliburton can be the main guy on a championship team? They need a third star, where are they getting him from?

They still have Hield, Mathurin, Nembhard, Walker, and more 1sts to trade.

Oh for Mathurin they better get somebody really good

[RoyceDa59]

Indiana is a force now.

[magee]

Stoked for both teams. Huge win-win. Toronto has a decent track record with later picks. Give them a chance to take some shots and peddle a pick down the line for something else. Gonna like watching this team built around Scottie Barnes.

Dig it for Indy, too. Why not try to be competitive now and see where the upgrades need to be in a couple years to keep them in the picture.