Pascal Siakam has already done plenty to change the Indiana Pacers’ direction, but the bigger question is what comes next.
Indiana acquired Siakam in January 2024, and since then he has looked like exactly the kind of player who can steady a franchise and raise its ceiling at the same time. The Pacers moved from lottery territory into legitimate championship contention, and Siakam has been central to that leap. He has brought scoring, versatility and leadership, and he’s been one of the most dependable players on the roster.
That’s why the Pacers are now facing a real decision on how aggressively they want to pay to keep him.
Siakam has been eligible since July for a three-year, $207 million extension. He is under contract through the 2027-28 season, so Indiana does have time before it has to act. But with other major roster choices coming, there’s a clear tension here: lock in one of the team’s most important players now, or preserve flexibility a little longer.
The case for extending him is obvious. Siakam has earned another contract, and his value to this team goes beyond numbers.
He’s a proven champion and one of the most consistent players in the league. There’s also no obvious replacement waiting in the wings if Indiana lets him walk when the current deal ends.
Still, the risk is part of the conversation. Siakam will be 34 when his contract expires, and committing major money now means betting that his game will age well.
That said, his style suggests he should hold up relatively gracefully. He’s been durable, and his production isn’t built entirely on elite athleticism.
That’s why the amount matters just as much as the decision itself.
One view is that Indiana should try to land Siakam somewhere around $40-45 million per year, which would keep him below max territory and still reward what he has brought to the franchise. Another possible path would be a shorter two-year deal with a player option, at roughly 70 percent of the maximum allowed. That kind of structure could work for both sides, especially if the Pacers want to avoid overcommitting while Siakam enters the final stage of his career.
There’s also the broader roster picture to consider. A long-term deal for Siakam would make it tougher to imagine a future where Andrew Nembhard, Ivica Zubac, Obi Toppin and Jarace Walker are apart of the team beyond the 2027-28 season.
For now, the Pacers still have time. But the Siakam question is hanging there, and whatever Indiana decides will say a lot about how it sees its future.
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