Last year, the Indiana Pacers traded for Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown, Kira Lewis Jr., Jordan Nwora, and multiple first-round picks. In his first year in Indiana, Siakam played a crucial role during the team's conference finals run last season and was named an All-Star this year. As for Toronto, Lewis and Nwora had short stints with the team, and Brown was not a game-changer for them.
Naturally, many believed the Pacers easily won this trade. While this is still the truth, the trade is starting to age differently over a year later, and there is a chance that it works out pretty well for the Raptors.
Raptors trade Bruce Brown for Brandon Ingram
Ahead of this year's NBA Trade Deadline, the Raptors finally moved on from Brown, who was a trade candidate the second he landed in Toronto. In return, they landed New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram. Ingram is a one-time All-Star and a former Most Improved Player award winner. While some have doubts about his fit with the team, there is a lot to like about Ingram in Toronto, especially as they look to build a solid foundation alongside their young stars, most notably Scottie Barnes.
Before the trade, Ingram was averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. He was also shooting 46.5% from the field and 37.4% from beyond the arc. However, the 27-year-old is an impending free agent and has not appeared in a game since December 7. While there is some risk to acquiring Ingram, especially for a rebuilding team, there is also a good chance this works out in Toronto's favor for the long haul.
Indirectly, the Pacers helped the Raptors land Ingram when they traded Brown to them. By no means should the Pacers regret making this trade, but it will be an interesting story to develop. If Ingram can revert to his All-Star self and prove his fit next to Barnes, the Raptors should be a playoff contender sooner rather than later.
As for this season, the Pacers only have one more game against the Raptors--a February 26 battle in Indiana. Though Ingram has no concrete timetable for his return just yet, there is a chance that he could suit up against the Pacers by this point. Regardless, it will be interesting to see how Ingram impacts the Raptors' success in the long run. If all goes well, the Raptors may have the Pacers to thank for their potential success.