1 overlooked Suns move helped fuel the Pacers' NBA Finals run
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The Indiana Pacers have made some very wise decisions to earn a spot in the 2025 NBA Finals, but one of the most fortunate was out of their hands.
Most fans already know about the big move that started this era of the Pacers when they traded Domantas Sabonis to land franchise cornerstone Tyrese Haliburton from the Sacramento Kings. But another transaction that never happened is perhaps just as important to their history.
Back in 2022, former Phoenix Suns big man Deandre Ayton entered the offseason as a restricted free agent. This essentially meant that while any team could give him an offer sheet, the Suns would have a chance to match it. The Pacers had the third-worst record in the Eastern Conference that season and they were looking to make a swing.
Indiana's front office gave Ayton a four-year, $133 million offer sheet, which was the largest offer sheet in NBA history at the time.
While it seemed like a fun idea to pair Ayton with Tyrese Haliburton, the Suns decided to match so that they could retain their rights to the player they selected at No. 1 overall (ahead of Luka Dončić and Trae Young) in 2018.
Needless to say, it did not go particularly well between the Suns and Ayton and the big man was eventually traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic. (Phoenix later traded a disgruntled Nurkic and a first-round pick for Cody Martin and Vasilije Micić).
If the Suns had not matched the offer sheet for Ayton, the big man would have signed with the Pacers. Perhaps with Ayton in the mix, they would have eventually traded a crucial player like Myles Turner due to the positional overlap at center.
Instead, they later used that cap space to make important moves like signing Bruce Brown — who they later traded to land Pascal Siakam.
Of course, Siakam went on to win MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals and has played a crucial role in why the Pacers are so successful right now. Turner has also played an impactful role in Indiana's journey to win the Eastern Conference as well.
The butterfly effect and the sliding doors of how each player got to the Pacers is fascinating, but this particular wrinkle is especially fascinating.
Giannis in Canada?
While the most interesting thing happening in the NBA right now is the upcoming series between the Pacers and Thunder to win the championship, it is impossible to ignore the elephant in the room.
Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo could get traded this offseason, and a new suitor is emerging:
Many of the other usual suspects are often mentioned when folks speculate about where Antetokounmpo is eventually traded.
But in the past few days, a new team is gaining some momentum as a surprising suitor as well: The Toronto Raptors.
According to Toronto Star reporter Doug Smith, there is "mutual interest" between Antetokounmpo and the Raptors.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst also separately reported that the Raptors are "looking for a big fish" in the trade market.
The Raptors reportedly tried to draft Antetokounmpo when he was a prospect back in 2013 and the superstar has deep ties to Toronto executive Masai Ujiri.
Meanwhile, per Raphael Barlowe, the father of a player projected to hear his name in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery said that the Bucks have done "background work" to research his son. Milwaukee does not have a pick until No. 47, but the Raptors are on the clock at No. 9 overall.
Shootaround
— Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Tyrese Haliburton lead fascinating 2025 NBA Finals MVP race
— The biggest favorites in NBA Finals history, including the 2025 Thunder
— Pacers and Thunder can thank Paul George for their 2025 NBA Finals berths
— Pacers fans shared fitting 1-word chant for Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam