Report: Pacers 'actively engaged' in talks to trade Bruce Brown, assets for Pascal Siakam

The Pacers are "actively engaged" in trade discussions involving Raptors two-time All-NBA power forward Pascal Siakam that would include Pacers guard Bruce Brown Jr., "other salaries" and three first-round picks, according to a report from Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

The Pacers have been connected to trade talks regarding Siakam since July, and he would fill two important roster needs as they try to re-establish themselves as a playoff caliber team. They could use a star to pair with All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and they could also use a power forward who can both score and defend other inside-outside power forwards, as they have struggled mightily to guard such players.

Utah's Lauri Markkanen scored 32 points against the Pacers' in the Jazz's 132-105 win on Monday night to join Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Lakers' LeBron James, Boston's Jayson Tatum, Orlando's Paolo Banchero and Minnesota's Karl Anthony Towns as 4s the Pacers have had trouble guarding.

The 6-8, 230-pound Siakam can do both of those things. He's averaging 22.2 points per game for Toronto this season and averaged at least 20 points per game in each of his previous four seasons. He also averages 6.5 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks per game for his career.

Pursuing Siakam is a little risky because he's making $37.9 million this season, the last in his contract. He has indicated that he will not sign with any team that trades for him. However, as the highest-scoring team in the NBA with Haliburton leading all NBA players in assists, the Pacers have been openly advertising themselves as a fun team to play for, so they would hope to be able to entice him to stay when his contract expires.

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Re-signing Siakam would obviously tighten the Pacers' salary cap situation. They are currently $6.45 million under the cap, which gives them the most space in the league. However, they will have considerably less space to work with starting next season when Haliburton's max contract extension kicks in.

The Athletic’s report did not indicate what first-round picks the Pacers would be dealing. They have their own pick and the least favorable among the Thunder, Jazz, Clippers and Rockets in the 2024 draft.

Brown was signed to a two-year $45 million deal in July after helping the Nuggets to their first ever NBA title. Brown's deal includes a team option for the 2024-25 season. He's averaging 12.1 points per game this season.