Pascal Siakam, the All-Star forward, has made the decision to remain with the Indiana Pacers and sign a lucrative four-year, $189.5 million maximum contract, as per sources from ESPN. This news comes after Pacers‘ president of basketball operations, Kevin Pritchard, and general manager, Chad Buchanan, extended the max offer to Siakam and his agents, Todd Ramasar and Jaafar Choufani of Life Sports Agency. The negotiations took place following the NBA’s new early contact rules that allowed teams to engage in talks for extensions and free agent deals post the NBA Finals.
Contract Details
Siakam, who is currently 30 years old, is expected to put pen to paper on the deal once the league’s free agency moratorium concludes on July 6th. The forward joined the Pacers in a significant swap with the Toronto Raptors last January and played a pivotal role in leading the franchise to the Eastern Conference finals after a ten-year gap. The Indiana team targeted Siakam during the final year of his Raptors contract, banking on his championship experience and All-NBA caliber to complement All-NBA guard Tyrese Haliburton. With Siakam’s commitment, the Pacers now have both Haliburton and Siakam locked in until 2028 and 2029, respectively.
Performance and History
Siakam’s impending deal would be the second largest in Pacers history, following the five-year, $245 million max extension inked by Haliburton the previous year. During his 41 regular-season games with Indiana, Siakam averaged 21.3 points while shooting 55% from the field and 39% from beyond the arc. His impact was further highlighted during the playoffs where he became just the third player ever to average 35 points and 10 rebounds in his first two postseason appearances, a feat achieved previously by legends such as Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain. Siakam’s scoring tally of 367 points in the 2024 playoffs was the highest by any Pacers player since Paul George in 2014. Additionally, the Cameroonian forward, who was the 26th pick in the 2016 NBA draft, was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2019, a testament to his significant growth and contributions during Toronto’s championship-winning season.
Siakam’s decision to accept the Pacers‘ max offer solidifies his commitment to the team and sets the stage for an exciting future alongside fellow star player Tyrese Haliburton. His impressive performance both in the regular season and playoffs demonstrates his value as a top-tier player in the league, making him a key asset for the Pacers as they aim for success in the seasons to come.
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