Charles Barkley reacts to Pascal Siakam's trade to Pacers / News - Basketnews.com

Charles Barkley praises Pacers' Pascal Siakam trade as a "great move," predicting their surge from 7th to 2nd or 3rd in the East: "You're only afraid of the Boston Celtics. You're not afraid of the [Milwaukee] Bucks."

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Indiana Pacers have sent shockwaves through the NBA market with a transformative trade for Pascal Siakam, positioning themselves as potential game-changers in the Eastern Conference.

Pascal Siakam

Team:Indiana PacersPosition:PFAge:29Height:206 cmWeight:104 kgBirth place:CameroonProfileNewsStatistics

This move has amassed widespread positive reactions, including a shift in opinion from NBA legend Charles Barkley.

In the trade, Indiana acquired Siakam from the Toronto Raptors, parting ways with Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and future draft picks. The New Orleans Pelicans also played a role in the deal by sending Kira Lewis to the Raptors and a future second-round pick to the Pacers.

Barkley, speaking on NBA on TNT, expressed newfound optimism about the Pacers' prospects.

"Well, he was the second-best player when they won the championship [with the Toronto Raptors]," Barkley said of 2019 triumph. "Go look at the numbers. This ain't a good trade for the Pacers, it's a great trade. I love what they're doing in Indiana. They are like, 'Hey, you know what? Let's go for it.'

"You're only afraid of the Boston Celtics. You're not afraid of the [Milwaukee] Bucks," Chuck went on to say. "'We own the Bucks. We beat them pretty much every time we play them this year.' The [Philadelphia] Sixers, I think they need another piece. 'We only got to beat Boston Celtics.'"

The current NBA analyst underscored the rarity of acquiring an All-Star like Siakam, predicting an upward trajectory for the player's performance playing alongside a more talented roster.

"If we got a chance to get an All-Star, an All-Star, you don't very often get a chance to get All-Stars on your team. His numbers are only gonna get better because he's playing with better players," Barkley continued.

Barkley also thinks the Pacers can move from the seventh position in the Eastern Conference standings to spot No. 2 or No. 3.

"Listen, the Bucks are not playing well. ... They gave up 140 points the other night. Dame [Damian Lillard] hit the shot, you can't give up 140 points and win in the NBA," Barkley pointed out.

"I love what the Pacers are doing. I think my Sixers need another player. I really do. But I love this trade. I know they gonna miss Bruce Brown. I am a big Bruce Brown fan. I actually think Bruce Brown gonna get traded again to a contender because he is such a terrific player. But I love what the Pacers did."

The Pacers, led by Tyrese Haliburton and company, notched 24 wins in 41 games.

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