“Watch out for the Indiana Pacers should Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors become available for trade this year. The Pacers have been quietly discussed in trade talks for a while, but with Tyrese Haliburton emerging as one of the NBA’s promising young talents, Indiana is poised to have a more significant presence in trade discussions going forward. With ample salary cap space and draft picks, the team, led by President Kevin Pritchard, has shown a history of aggressiveness in pursuing players like Siakam and Anunoby, as mentioned by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Thursday. They’ve been willing to offer substantial trade packages for players who might soon become free agents.”
During the trade deadline last year, the Pacers allegedly made a substantial offer of up to three first-round picks and a second-rounder for Anunoby, as reported by ESPN’s Zach Lowe. Additionally, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, Indiana made inquiries about Siakam during the past summer, but the extent of these discussions concerning the Toronto Raptors’ All-Star forward remains unclear. Both Siakam and Anunoby have contracts expiring, and considering the anticipated salary cap space for the Pacers next summer, their interest in these players becomes understandable. Acquiring either or both could significantly bolster Indiana’s defense, currently ranked 28th in the league, and provide added scoring prowess to the NBA’s top-ranked offense.
The Indiana Pacers currently possess all their future first-round draft picks and an additional late first-round selection this year, which will be the least favorable among those of Oklahoma City, Houston, Utah, or the Los Angeles Clippers. Regarding potential players for trade, Buddy Hield’s expiring contract worth 19.2 million dollars could be a suitable match for Anunoby and might assist in balancing Siakam’s larger contract valued at 37.8 million dollars. Apart from Hield, the Pacers have two other notable players with significant contracts: Bruce Brown, who is earning 22 million dollars this year, and Myles Turner, whose contract stands at 20.9 million dollars.
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