Pascal Siakam decided not to accept the invitation to join the Cameroon team for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga due to his upcoming free agency.
Brazil and Montenegro, rated 68th by FIBA, will play Cameroon in Riga on July 3 and 4, respectively. However, the African team will not have its finest asset—Pascal Siakam, who had a fantastic season with the Indiana Pacers—on hand for the forthcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Pascal Siakam, who is expected to sign a four-year maximum contract worth $189.5 million with the Pacers, will not participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga due to his pending free agency. His new deal is set to be finalized after the free agency moratorium ends on July 6, which unfortunately precludes him from joining Cameroon for the tournament.
In a statement, the Cameroonian federation acknowledged that they have been in contact with Siakam and his agent for several months. However, given Siakam’s free agent status and the imminent signing, it is not feasible for him to commit to playing for the national team at this time, as it would pose potential risks.
The federation also addressed concerns about player insurance, asserting that special insurance has been arranged by the government of Cameroon for all participants, in addition to FIBA’s longstanding coverage for players involved in international competitions.
During his recent playoff run with the Pacers, where the team reached the Eastern Conference finals, Siakam showcased impressive averages of 21.7 points (53.6% shooting from the field), 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game.
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