The Indiana Pacers have kept a piece of their burgeoning young core around for a while longer.
Forward Pascal Siakam has signed a contract with the Pacers, which, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, if for four years and $189.5 million. The team’s front office presented the deal to Siakam on Tuesday, shortly after the NBA’s new contract rules allowing teams to begin negotiating extensions with their free agents opened.
from day one.
it was always Indy for Pascal Siakam 💯 pic.twitter.com/NjhotH6xif
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 8, 2024
Full ESPN story on Pascal Siakam’s plans to sign a $189.5M maximum contract to stay with Pacers https://t.co/KfYzeyW1KL
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2024
On Pascal Siakam and the report from Woj on his intention to re-sign. https://t.co/OqfSjhujxq
— Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) June 19, 2024
Siakam, who is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, was acquired by the team in a trade with the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 17. In 41 games with Indiana, Siakam averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 54.9% overall and 38.6% on 3-pointers.
He was a key component of the Pacers’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals, putting up 21.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 54.1% shooting (29.8% on 3-pointers) in the 2024 playoffs. In the Pacers’ win at Madison Square Garden in the East semifinals, Siakam came up strong with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting with four rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in the 130-109 win.
Siakam and fellow star guard Tyrese Haliburton give Indiana a core to build around as it hopes to contend in the Eastern Conference in the coming seasons. Indiana’s 47-35 finish was its best since a 48-win campaign in 2018-19 and its run to the East finals was its longest playoff stretch since 2013-14.
The No. 26 overall pick of the 2019 Draft, Siakam was the Kia Most Improved Player in 2018-19 and helped the Raptors win the NBA title that season.
In reaching this reported deal, Siakam is the final member of the Pacers’ playoff starting five to be locked into a deal for 2024-25 and beyond. Backup forward Obi Toppin will be a restricted free agent this summer while veterans Doug McDermott and James Johnson will be unrestricted. Backup center Jalen Smith has a player option for 2024-25 he hasn’t exercised yet.