Indiana Pacers acquire Pascal Siakam in trade with Raptors

The Indiana Pacers continue to do a great job with retooling their team. Tyrese Halliburton has become a superstar after being acquired by Indiana and now he will now have another All-NBA talent as a running mate in Pascal Siakam.

Indiana is sending two 2024 first-rounders and a 2026 first to the Raptors, sources said. New Orleans sends a second-round pick to Indiana. https://t.co/xxaMY5dETc

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2024

If you've been a regular reader of Celtics Life the past 14 years, I'm the last person to discount the value of future NBA first rounders, but seems like a great trade by the Pacers. Trades for NBA superstars in modern times can be complicated by their short lists of teams they are willing to play for, but Siakam ad his impending free agency I'm sure brought down his trade value some. That said two first rounders in the later half of this year's first round and the Pacers 2026 pick seems like a poor return.

For example it cost the Celtics just one less first rounder, the reigning 6th man of the year in Malcolm Brogdon, and a highly valued young starter (at the time) in Robert Williams for Jrue Holiday, who's older and was also facing free agency.

Siakam should fit in nicely with not only Halliburton, but center Myles Turner. Is that core good enough to compete immediately? Will have to wait and see on that. As for the Raptors, they begin a new era minus any remnants from their championship team and with the keys to the team firmly now in the hands of Scottie Barnes.