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Indiana Pacers star forward Pascal Siakam plans to sign a four-year, $189.5 million max contract that will keep him alongside Tyrese Haliburton for the foreseeable future, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Pacers reporter Scott Agness first reported Tuesday that Siakam and the Pacers were trending toward a new deal.
Unlike previous years, teams around the NBA are allowed to begin negotiations with their own players who are set to be free agents, as well as those that are rookie extension eligible or veteran extension eligible. Siakam, who recently completed his four-year, $136 million contract that began with the Toronto Raptors in 2020, is considered an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
However, the Pacers made their intentions to keep Siakam clear when they acquired him from the Raptors at the trade deadline. While Siakam won't be getting a five-year max worth over $245 million, the 30-year-old will sign this four-year deal once the NBA's free agency moratorium ends on July 6.
Pascal Siakam's impact with Pacers
Siakam returning to the Pacers is not surprising in the least. The two-time All-Star was the player Indiana wanted to add next to Haliburton at the trade deadline, and he was worth the investment.
In a total of 41 games with the Pacers, Siakam averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 54.9 percent from the floor and 38.6 percent from three-point range. Siakam made his impact felt during the Pacers' playoff run, leading the team in total points, rebounds, and field goals before they were swept by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Pacers are a much better team than many tend to give them credit for. Not only did they make the conference finals for the first time in a decade, but they also made it to the championship game of the very first NBA In-Season Tournament.
This team was built to contend, and they have plenty of talent to do so. With Siakam set to return, head coach Rick Carlisle will look to build off of a very successful season with his young team.
The feelings of reaching a new long-term contract were mutual between the Pacers and Siakam when their playoff run ended. During his closing remarks on the season, Siakam made it clear to point out that Indiana was where he wanted to be.
“All I can say is that… yeah, it's been a blessing. I'm really appreciative of everything,” Siakam pointed out. “Coming from where I come from, it means a lot. The support that I've received here is something that I was kind of missing. Having all that and seeing how the city just breathes basketball and how much support they give to the team, just being here, the home games, it's incredible.”
Now, the 30-year-old will be tasked with trying to lead his team back to the Eastern Conference Finals, and beyond, during the 2024-25 season.
