ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggested the NBA’s goal of dispersing talent around the league under its new collective bargaining agreement is beginning to work as evidenced by the Indiana Pacers’ trade for Pascal Siakam.
The Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers have been amongst the teams interested in trading for Siakam at various points over the past year.
“When the league put in this new salary cap and this second apron and this real limitation on the way big market teams could stockpile star players, you’re starting to see how teams like Golden State or L.A., others… it’s hard to have three stars in this league right now,” said Adrian Wojnarowski. “The league’s goal was to start spurting that talent around. That’s part of the reason why Pascal Siakam lands with the Indiana Pacers.”
Siakam will be a free agent this offseason and is widely expected to re-sign with the Pacers.
Wojnarowski believes the Warriors and Sixers were never seriously contenders to trade for Siakam. The Pacers had leverage in trade talks due to their possibility of having cap space this offseason and could pursue Siakam then as well.