Trade Grades: Raptors Trade Pascal Siakam To The Pacers

Trade Grades: Raptors Trade Pascal Siakam To The Pacers

The Pacers decided they were going to get space well before the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline. With the rise of Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana isn’t gun shy about giving up assets to improve the team around him. Siakam is on his way to play for the Pacers, but which team won the deal? Let’s hand out those trade grades! 

Pacers: Grade B-

It’s not really a secret that I’m not a Siakam fan. If Kawhi never played for Toronto what would his legacy be? Solid defender but not a great floor spacer. Isn’t this the whole reason the Pacers wanted to break up the Sabonis and Turner pairing? So now the Pacers just have a worse version of Sabonis? Maybe you get more verticality but it’s hard to imagine this trade takes them over the top. 

Where does this trade them in the East? They’re not better than Boston, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, or Miami. You’re still stuck in the middle of the Eastern Conference and need to add another piece on top of this. Except now all of the draft capital is gone. 

Sorry to be a Debby downer but I wouldn’t have made this trade. I understand it and the fact that Indiana didn’t give up any of their young talent makes this easier to live with. I just think we need to keep expectations in check. Siakam makes them a better team but how much does it move the needle? Does it move the needle enough to give Siakam a Supermax deal which will end up being a sizable raise from the $37 million he’s making right now? Oh, and Siakam turns 30 in April. I’m out on that. 

Raptors: B

I can’t give the Raptors an A just based on the fact that this doesn’t match what the Jazz got for Rudy Gobert. Had Toronto made a trade like this years ago when the market was out of control, they probably could have gotten more of a haul. It also stings a bit that they didn’t get any real young talent in this trade. No Jarace Walker, Andrew Nembhard, or Bennedict Mathurin in this deal. 

The Raptors have to hit on these three picks. We know the NBA Draft is a bit of a crapshoot. With Indiana likely making the playoffs in the East for the foreseeable future, it’s fair to question the value of those picks. How valuable are three dart throws in the early 20’s? 

The positive is that Toronto opened a lot of cap space with this deal. They can also trade Bruce Brown if they so choose. 

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