When Will Pascal Siakam make his Pacers Debut? Latest News on Indiana’s Newly Acquired NBA Champion

Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors was one of the top candidates for a trade before the February deadline. With so many teams interested in him, it was the Indiana Pacers who finally landed him. This trade saw Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks land in Toronto.

Led by the young Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers are emerging as a major contender in the East. Now, all that’s left to know is when Siakam will take the floor in his brand-new Pacers jersey. The latest update by Spears gives the expected day to be Friday when Indiana will face the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 29-year-old power forward had no apparent interest in basketball in earlier years. But his athleticism and energy levels on-court were enough to grab the attention of hawk-eyed scouts. Particularly, his fellow native and NBA legend, Luc Mbah a Moute. Since then Pascal hasn’t looked back.

Drafted by the Raptors in 2016, Siakam immediately made his impact known. And from there we saw a doe-eyed young big man steadily showcase marked improvements each season. Aside from being the 2019 NBA champion, he also received the honor of being the Most Improved Player the same year.

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There is no doubt that the 2x All-Star will continue to improve his game.

The Pacers are “incredibly excited” in getting Pascal Siakam

Having spent his time with the team that drafted him, Siakam had said that he was quite excited about the change. The Pacers, for their part, also agree. Talking about the deal, Indiana’s President, Kevin Pritchard had reportedly said, “We’re incredibly excited to welcome Pascal to Indiana. As a two-time All-NBA selection and two-time NBA All Star, Pascal is a player that our organization has long admired and respected.”

He further elaborates on why he would be the right fit for a team that has big aspirations for the future. “We feel that his unique offensive skillset will complement our style of play, while his defensive versatility will be a valuable asset to our team.” Pascal is considered to be one of the best defenders in the league. His ability to guard all five positions often draws similarities to the Warriors defensive anchor, Draymond Green.

While the ‘Hoosier State’ tops the leaderboard in points per game (125.6) and offensive rating (121.6), their defensive state isn’t the best. So, having Siakam on the court will surely be a significant boost. But the Knicks have their sights set on Siakam as well. Between the trade deadline and Pascal hitting free agency in July, the Raptors have a difficult decision to make.

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