Agbaji bettering, Pacers struggles have deal that appears extra favorable now
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With a well-recognized face again on the town on Monday, it is value revisiting the deal that despatched him away.
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The Toronto Raptors dealt Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers on January 17, simply weeks after buying and selling OG Anunoby, successfully ending the post-championship period. Whereas Anunoby’s blockbuster seemed nice from the beginning and has aged even higher regardless of Immanuel Quickley’s dangerous luck with accidents thus far this season (the workforce additionally obtained RJ Barrett, who continues to play the perfect basketball of his profession and a draft decide that turned rookie schemer Jonathan Mogbo), the Siakam deal was rightly thought of doubtlessly one of many worst in franchise historical past. Not Vince Carter for something dangerous, however not only for a two-time All-NBA participant.
The Raptors bought him within the type of three returning first-round picks, plus the rest they may transfer veteran Bruce Brown for, however had been unable to commerce Brown earlier than the commerce deadline in February or through the offseason. He then underwent knee surgical procedure and has but to go well with up in 2024-25. The jury is out on what groups shall be keen to pay for Brown if he restores his worth. He performed a key position on the Denver Nuggets when that workforce received a title a couple of years in the past, however he largely struggled as a Raptor, notably after struggling a knee damage.
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One of many first-round picks was dealt to Utah for Canadian veteran Kelly Olynyk and former lottery decide Ochai Agbaji, which appeared like an affordable transfer. Though Olynyk missed the primary 14 video games with a again situation, he’s nonetheless anticipated to be a key reserve and a great chief within the locker room. Toronto granted him an extension. But it surely’s Agbaji’s play that makes the Siakam commerce a bit higher.
The 24-year-old winger is likely one of the most improved gamers within the NBA. He is tasked with guarding prime offensive gamers each evening, however he shot 52.2 p.c from the sphere on offense, together with 44.3 p.c on three-point makes an attempt. He made a league-high 21 three-pointers, capturing 53.8 p.c on these makes an attempt and two-thirds of his photographs within the restricted space, third finest on the workforce. It is clearly very early, however after taking part in his worst post-trade basketball final season, Agbaji has utterly modified the sport. He nonetheless has one other low cost 12 months on his rookie contract and the Raptors will be capable to match any provide after that if he heads to restricted free company if he does not re-sign. settlement.
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The 2024 first-round decide acquired for Siakam that the Raptors saved obtained them Ja’Kobe Walter. Walter barely performed as a consequence of a shoulder downside that then worsened once more, sending him to the bench, however the workforce resides as much as his potential.
Lastly, the deciding issue that would decide what kind of commerce the Siakam deal finally ends up being for the Raptors at the moment seems much more promising than it did final January. On the time, Tyrese Haliburton seemed like an ascending famous person, the Pacers had been NBA Cup finalists, Siakam was seen because the piece that would make them a contender within the watered-down East. Which means the ultimate first-round decide is headed to the Raptors, a 2026 choice (protected if it lands within the prime 4 in 2026 or 2027) gave the impression to be late. However whereas Siakam has thrived and is off to his finest capturing begin heading into Monday’s recreation, Halliburton has been strained for months, with the workforce’s depth examined by accidents (particularly at ahead) and the Pacers solely began 5-7 earlier than internet hosting. Miami on Sunday. The draft is 2 summers away, however the Raptors should really feel much more enthusiastic about the place the decide may land than they did on the time of the commerce.
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And that is why, even when a lot of the star gamers are moved for far more than Siakam, it is nonetheless attainable that in the long run each groups find yourself agreeing to this transfer.
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LOOKING FOR THE PACERS
Indiana was averaging simply 111.8 factors per 100 possessions heading into Sunday’s recreation, rating simply sixteenth within the NBA. That is regardless of Siakam capturing 46% from three-point vary (he’s a profession 33% shooter). The drop from a mean of 120.5 factors per 100 in 2023-24 (behind solely eventual champion Boston) is essentially as a consequence of Haliburton shockingly dropping to 40% capturing and simply 28 .7% from three and his Canadian associate within the backcourt, Andrew Nembhard, fared even worse earlier than getting injured. . Middle Myles Turner capturing about 10 p.c worse than regular on his two-pointers hasn’t helped both. Turner needed to play much more minutes with each of his backup choices misplaced for the 12 months.
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Really helpful by the editorial
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