East Notes: Pacers, Pascal Siakam, Pistons, Raptors

“The Pacers clearly knew what it would take to keep Siakam when they got him from Toronto, but getting it done officially means the franchise can get on with its rise in the East,” Aldridge wrote. “A full season of Siakam-Tyrese Haliburton–Myles Turner, at the pace Indiana plays, with now-proven postseason talent in abundance throughout the rotation, should give the Pacers a leg up over many of their competitors for a top-four berth in the East.”

Indiana also landed former No. 2 overall draft pick James Wiseman in a free agency. While he’s hardly lived up to the hype, he has proven to be — at worst — serviceable in the pivot.

“No harm in taking a flier on Wiseman; the 2020 No. 2 pick can rebound and run the floor,” Aldridge wrote. “He just needs to do it all of the time. Mathurin and 2023 first-rounder Jarace Walker have to find their way back into meaningful minutes after Rick Carlisle‘s group got so deep into the playoffs without them.”

• Rookie Johnny Furphy could be quite a steal for Indy, per Bleacher Report. “None of us should mind if the Pacers give Furphy a shot to make an impact outside the G-League,” the outlet wrote. “He isn’t just a good fit. It’s like he was born to play for the exact iteration of this Indiana team.”

Pistons

The Pistons made all kinds of changes this summer after losing 28 straight last season, and who knows? Maybe the turnaround can be quick.

“After years of unsuccessful tanking, Tom Gores cleaned house again, bringing in Trajan Langdon from New Orleans to run things,” Aldridge wrote. “Detroit broke its substantial cap room up into pieces to improve the roster around Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson with solid vets, hoping they can help them and the team’s other young vets.”

Some of the names brought in — forward Tobias Harris, center Paul Reed and wings Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. Oh, and coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

“Harris, Reed and Hardaway can all still play, but I’m not sure how much they collectively can raise the Pistons’ floor,” Aldridge wrote. “After so many years of dreadful basketball in the Motor City, though, I can understand the desire to hunt a Play-In spot to keep the fanbase engaged. With so many other teams in the East in full tank mode for the 2025 draft, Detroit may get in the postseason by default.”

• Beasley was named the team’s best new weapon in a piece by Bleacher Report. “Is Beasley perfect? Not even close,” the outlet wrote. “But he shouldered an outsized defensive role last year — and was far from terrible. He held up well, in particular, when getting switched onto bigger assignments. Granted, the Pistons didn’t sign Beasley in hopes he would overachieve on defense. This is about shooting. And he can shoot.”

Raptors

The Raptors’ offseason moves showed they are more about staying the course as they wait to strike, according to Aldridge. And hey, there are worse ideas.

“Locking up Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley to be the faces of the franchise with RJ Barrett going forward works,” Aldridge wrote. “The draft was solid with Ja’Kobe Walter, and Jonathan Mogbo‘s worth a second-round flier. Adding depth with Davion Mitchell is a plus.

“I just don’t know if any of it after Barnes and Quickley will lift the Raptors out of their post-title doldrums. With so many teams in the East on the Sag for Flagg plan, Toronto could get a sugar high of rising in the conference that may not be real.

“But Barnes is a legit guy to build around. And it’s not a crime to keep a franchise’s powder dry, especially with a fan base as passionate as Toronto’s, for another, more advantageous, day.”