The Toronto Raptors traded Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers for a package headlined by three first-round picks and veteran guard Bruce Brown. In addition, two other names are coming to town in former Pacers gunner Jordan Nwora and ex-New Orleans Pelicans lottery pick Kira Lewis Jr.
Nwora was a rotation player on a champion Bucks team for a handful of seasons before his trade to the Pacers, and he is looking to reestablish himself as a solid player in this league after losing his spot to younger players in Indiana. At his best, the Nigerian national team stud can be a serious bucket-getter.
Lewis was picked No. 13 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Pelicans, but injuries prevented him from becoming that ultra-athletic guard everyone thought he would be. He will get a chance to set things right in Toronto, provided he can stay healthy.
The Raptors didn't acquire these players for no reason. Masai Ujiri clearly saw something he liked in both of them, which could make for some very interesting games down the stretch as they try to prove their worth.
New Beginnings #wethenorth 🖤🦖 https://t.co/R8pSZnZVwL
— Jordan Nwora (@JordanNwora) January 18, 2024
Will Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr. make an impact on the Toronto Raptors?
Nwora is averaging just 5.2 points per game in 18 games this season, but he put up 8.3 per contest in around 19 minutes on average as a bench gunner for both the Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. Averaging 13.0 points per game following his trade to Indiana shows Nwora is an interesting microwave scorer who could become a rotation piece.
With No. 13 overall pick Gradey Dick still very much an unknown at this point in his career, the 6-8 Nwora might be enough of a quality shooter to wiggle his way into the rotation despite some fairly legitimate concerns about his overall defensive ability and his passing.
Lewis seems like a developmental gamble, as he is a career 39% shooter in four years and has never started a game. However, the fact Toronto added him over any one of Indiana's young rotation players could be a sign they value his athletic profile. Currently the third point guard behind Immanuel Quickley and Dennis Schroder, could the former Alabama star earn a bigger role for himself?
The Raptors are in experimentation mode right now, as they need to figure out if any of the players they acquired for Siakam can fit alongside their new trio of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and RJ Barrett. Both of these young players have a golden opportunity to make their mark in a new environment.