Pascal Siakam, who won an NBA championship for the Toronto Raptors in 2019, will be wearing a new jersey for the first time in his NBA career. The 2-time NBA all-star will be leaving the team he played eight seasons for to join a young fast, paced Pacers team in a Mid-season blockbuster trade. In return for Siakam, the Raptors received guard/forward Bruce Brown, forward Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks.
BREAKING: The Indiana Pacers are finalizing a trade to acquire All-Star F Pascal Siakam in a deal that will send Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks to the Toronto Raptors. New Orleans will be a third team in deal, sending Kira Lewis to the Raptors.
Rumors had been swirling about a Siakam trade for some time now, with his contract ending at the end of last year. Trading Siakam is the Raptors’ second big move this season, as they recently traded away forward OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks at the end of December. The Raptors have now traded away two of the last remaining players from their championship team as they look to move forward with a younger core. After trading Siakam, the team clearly wants to rebuild around young stud Scottie Barnes.
Fantasy Basketball Impact: Winners and Losers
Indiana Pacers
Pascal Siakam: Winner
This season, Siakam is averaging 22 points, 6.3 rebounds, five assists, 1.2 threes, 52% shooting and is 76% from the free throw line in 35 minutes this season. Siakam is currently the 70th-ranked player in fantasy basketball.
The Pacers play at a super fast pace, and Siakam will see more shots, including three-point attempts, which should raise his point total but keep his efficiency the same. Siakam’s minutes shouldn’t change, and I can see him finishing in the top 50 for the remainder of the season.
Buddy Hield: Winner
Buddy Hield’s numbers have been down this year, as he’s jumped between starting and the bench. That said, the removal of Bruce Brown can clear the way for the three-point assassin to reclaim a permanent starting role for this team for the remainder of the year.
Buddy Hield scored 10 points in the first 3 minutes of the third quarter ? pic.twitter.com/DJ90RlFcvx
Hield is currently the 126th-ranked player, and his stats have taken a significant dip from last season. Now, with more time and scoring opportunities, I can see Hield getting closer to his 57th ranking from last season and making fantasy owners happy once again.
Toronto Raptors
Bruce Brown: Winner
Bruce Brown will likely be starting in the front court for the Raptors, besides Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl. Brown is currently the 145th-ranked player in fantasy, averaging 12 points, 4.7 rebounds, three assists, 1.1 steals on 48% shooting, and 82% from the line in 30 minutes a game. I see Brown’s minutes and touches going up with his new role in Toronto, and he could finish in the top 120 to end the season.
Scottie Barnes: Winner
Ever since the Raptors added RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes' numbers have taken a dramatic dip. Over the last two weeks, Barnes had been averaging a season-low 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists, which shadowed his big start to the season, where Barnes ranked in the top 20 in fantasy. By moving off Siakam, Barnes should return to the high usage he saw early this season, which will improve his fantasy play.
Scottie Barnes with an INSANE shot plus the foul ?pic.twitter.com/5nz5btlDtn
