Grade the trade: Pacers snag Pascal Siakam in proposed blockbuster

Would the Indiana Pacers accept this trade?

Siakam has made two All-NBA teams and averaged over 21 points per game for four straight years. He is an unquestioned star and one of the most underrated players in the league. The 6’9 forward is an elite scorer that can handle the ball, make plays, shoot, rebound, and defend multiple positions. Teams will be salivating if he becomes available.

The Pacers could offer the winning bid, but it would have to come with a contract extension. The 29-year-old is in the middle of his prime, but Indiana is not in a position to win the championship. They were 11th in the Eastern Conference last season and missed the Play-In Tournament by six games. Tyrese Haliburton is special, and the organization is trying to build a consistent winner around him.

Trading the eighth pick before he plays one minute in the NBA is risky. If Jarace Walker becomes a superstar, the Pacers will forever be the team that gave up on him. It adds an element of risk to this deal, but acquiring Pascal Siakam for the next four years would be too good to pass up.

Grade: B-

The grade is low because an extension is no guarantee. Without it, this trade likely becomes a disaster that sees the team give up a ton for one year of Pascal Siakam. No matter what the Indiana Pacers offer for the two-time All-Star, acquiring him would be a win that turns into an A-plus move if the Pacers get back to contention and keep him long-term. Can they make that happen? Stay tuned to find out.

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