Following a Game 4 loss in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Boston Celtics, the Indiana Pacers now shift their attention to an important offseason. Among the many looming decisions, none carries more weight than Pascal Siakam’s free agency decision.
Siakam, who the Pacers acquired midseason from the Toronto Raptors, should have no shortage of interested teams in free agency, but a return to the Pacers is vital to the team building on this season’s success.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” that the Pacers’ “biggest priority” is bringing him back. He also reported the team is preparing a max contract offer for Siakam.
“They didn’t just trade those picks to potentially just have a crack at keeping him. They understand that it’s a maximum-level contract commitment that you’re going to have with Pascal Siakam,” Charania said. “That’s what they’re preparing to offer him this summer, and he wants to be there. There’s mutual interest in getting a deal done.”
All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton made it known on Tuesday that his foot will be on the gas to convince Siakam to remain with the Pacers.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure Pascal Siakam is in a Pacers uniform next year,” Tyrese Haliburton said, via Tony East of SI’s All Pacers.
Haliburton isn’t the only one with a focus on the push to re-sign Siakam. HIs coach also highlighted Siakam as the team’s offseason priority.
It would have been a surprise if, following what the Pacers traded in exchange for Siakam, they didn’t opt to give him a max deal. But the mutual interest on both sides is great news for the Pacers, and if he does return, it should position them well to make noise in the Eastern Conference again next season.
