According to Scott Agnes of Fieldhouse Files, the Indiana Pacers and forward Pascal Siakam “are nearing a long-term contract extension.” Various reports have indicated that the Pacers will offer Siakam a max contract.
The Pacers are nearing a long-term contract extension with forward Pascal Siakam, league sources told Fieldhouse Files.
Both sides know how each other feels + want the partnership to continue. Story to come.
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) June 18, 2024
The 30-year-old averaged 21.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.3 assists per game on 53.6 percent shooting from the field last season.
Pacers Preparing to Offer Pascal Siakam ‘Long-Term Contract Extension’
Due to one of the most recent CBA’s changes, the Pacers were free to begin negotiating with Siakam the day after the NBA Finals ended.
“A player who (1) will (or could as a result of the non-exercise of an Option or the exercise of an ETO) become an Unrestricted Free Agent or a Restricted Free Agent on the immediately following July 1, and (2) finished the Season on a Team’s roster, is free at any time beginning on the day following the last day of such Season to negotiate a Player Contract with such Team”
Indiana still has to wait until the July Moratorium expires on Jul. 6. This is because the moratorium is a negotiating period in which teams are restricted from completing transactions. Nonethelesss, they can reach a verbal agreement with the All-Star far quicker than normal.
There wasn’t much doubt that Siakam would re-sign though, given his comments after the Pacers were eliminated from the playoffs. He was hesitant to divulge too much information about his offseason plans. Nonetheless, he made it quite clear that he would like to be back. He’s become enamored by the Pacers’ fan base. He credits Tyrese Haliburton’s pass-first mindset for helping elevate his career.
Sure, a team like the Philadelphia 76ers could offer Siakam beaucoup money to join them. Had he and Joel Embiid ever teamed up on the international level, Indiana might have even found itself competing against chemistry. Yet, they didn’t, so they aren’t. They aren’t even matched at the bidding table. No team is able to offer Siakam as much money as the Pacers can, as they have his Bird Rights.
Could He Have Been Swayed to Leave?
A free agent suitor’s best hope of signing Siakam may be to convince him that he has a better chance of winning a championship there. To that point, there’s rumored to be mutual interest between Philadelphia and Los Angeles Clippers star Paul George, who may become a free agent this offseason. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s top dog is even better than Indiana’s, leading them to the top of the Western Conference standings.
Siakam’s already won a championship and doesn’t appear beholden to ring culture. It’s subsequently unclear how much that argument moves the needle. That’s also assuming Siakam agrees the Pacers are a lesser team than the Sixers or Thunder, which he may not. Nonetheless, the goal for the vast majority of athletes in any sport or league is to win.
Money talks but a legacy is built on successes, not expenses.
