The eagerly anticipated retooling of the Toronto Raptors is now underway.
After being traded for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round selection on Saturday, OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn were sent to the New York Knicks, starting the process of rebuilding a flawed roster that was well past its prime.
Like Anunoby, Pascal Siakam is a two-time All-Star whose contract is up, so it looks like he’ll be the next key player to leave the team in the middle of the season. In light of that, the following five teams are either in win-now mode and hoping to improve before the trade deadline on February 8th, or they have been previously linked to Siakam.
Dallas Mavericks
Proposed trade:
RAPTORS GET | MAVERICKS GET |
---|---|
F Maxi Kleber | F Pascal Siakam |
G Josh Green | G Garrett Temple |
F Olivier Maxence-Prosper | |
C Richaun Holmes |
One team that Siakam is closely linked to is the Mavericks, who could certainly use his services. Not a single player in the Western Conference’s frontcourt averages more than 10.3 points per contest. As the third option on offense, Siakam’s efficiency would rise even if his isolation opportunities would undoubtedly lag behind those of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
The Raptors appear to be pursuing young players who have demonstrated NBA success and fit star Scottie Barnes’ timeframe, as evidenced by the Anunoby trade, rather than stockpiling draft choices. For that school of thought, Green is a prime contender. With his strong jump shot and ability to start in spurts, he is a guard with a defensive mindset. This season, he has been less effective in Jason Kidd’s starting lineup because of his lack of offensive aggression, but he might find newfound inspiration in a different capacity.
After being chosen with the No. 24 choice in the previous year’s draft, Maxence-Prosper hasn’t played much on the floor. However, he has the build of a defensive wing similar to Masai Ujiri, and if he can improve his 3-point shooting, he might be a starter. In the near term, Kleber and Holmes can help a Toronto club with a thin bench, but they are primarily cap fillers.
Sacramento Kings
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Proposed trade:
RAPTORS GET | KINGS GET |
---|---|
F Keegan Murray | F Pascal Siakam |
G Kevin Huerter | F Jalen McDaniels |
F Trey Lyles | |
F Kessler Edwards |
Siakam trade rumors have also regularly mentioned the Kings. It is realistic to say that Sacramento will have to make the difficult decision on this hypothetical trade. The Kings have shocked many once more by finishing close to the top of the competitive Western Conference. With the addition of Siakam, they would be a formidable opponent in the postseason. However, Murray is one of the few players who, even in his second year of play, already contributes to a fantastic NBA team and has enormous potential.
If Sacramento ultimately decides that Siakam’s value outweighs Murray’s, wage parity will be the next concern. Unless a third team entered the trade, one of the players Hunterter or Harrison Barnes, the sharpshooter—would also need to be sent off to earn match money. Huerter is a more likely possibility because of his shooting difficulties, but it would still add another layer of difficulty to the Kings’ already difficult dilemma. It’s important to note that a clause in Lyles’ contract meant the deal could only close after January 15.
Atlanta Hawks
Proposed trade:
RAPTORS GET | HAWKS GET |
---|---|
C Clint Capela | F Pascal Siakam |
G Patty Mills | F Jalen McDaniels |
G Kobe Bufkin | |
F Jalen Johnson |
Siakam and the Hawks have long been associated, with reports surfacing of their interactions during Summer League. Atlanta was reportedly happy to part with young forward A.J. Griffin, starting wing De’Andre Hunter, and an undisclosed sum of draft compensation, but they still felt strongly about their offer. If that wasn’t enough to lure Toronto in, this may.
Johnson, a third-year forward, would probably be the Raptors’ top request. After an incredible breakout season, the Duke product has exploded into the Hawks starting lineup this year. Both parties would benefit from Johnson being traded for Siakam; the Hawks need a reputable front-court player to go along with their locked-down backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, and the Raptors are building their roster around Barnes in order to remain competitive while also getting younger. While losing Capela would be difficult for Atlanta to accept, Onyeka Okongwu is a natural replacement who can take his place in the starting lineup going forward.
Indiana Pacers
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Proposed trade:
RAPTORS GET | PACERS GET |
---|---|
G Buddy Hield | F Pascal Siakam |
G Bennedict Mathurin | G Dennis Schroder |
G T.J. McConnell | |
F Jarace Walker |
The explosive attack led by Tyrese Haliburton of Indiana has attracted a lot of attention, but Rick Carlisle’s team is still a complete wreck on the other side of the ball. With 120.2 points allowed per 100 possessions, their defense has been the third worst in the league this season. Only the Washington Wizards have allowed opponents to score more points per game than their opponents. By acquiring Siakam, the Pacers not only add a capable defender to offset their weaknesses, but they also get another dynamic scorer who, when called upon, can start his own offense.
If Indiana does make a run at the Raptors, they’ll probably go for Mathurin, who was the second-best rookie scorer in the previous campaign. Mathurin, who appeared to have struck the typical sophomore wall early in the season, finally recovered his shooting form in December, when he shot 47/40.7/89.3 for an average of 15.3 points during his final 15 games.
But Toronto may also want to take advantage of Walker’s lackluster debut performance thus far and push for Walker’s inclusion in any trade (particularly if the Pacers aren’t willing to part with draft assets). Walker hasn’t been able to establish himself as a regular member of Indiana’s rotation despite being viewed as a fantastic defender before to the 2023 draft, but he might be a great fit for Toronto’s development scheme.
Golden State Warriors
Proposed trade:
RAPTORS GET | WARRIORS GET |
---|---|
F Andrew Wiggins | F Pascal Siakam |
F Jonathan Kuminga | |
G Moses Moody | |
G Cory Joseph | |
2 second-round picks |
Although there hasn’t been any credible news on the Warriors’ pursuit of Siakam, a possible trade makes too much sense to pass up. With its dynastic core intact, Golden State is running out of time to try one more time for a championship.
Siakam’s attacking style would relieve a great deal of strain on Stephen Curry, and his defensive adaptability would allow Steve Kerr to use a few different lines. The Warriors are one team that understands the worth of a championship, despite the high cost involved.
A few years ago, Wiggins would have been the prize in this trade, but after a career-worst season, he’s just filler money. With three years and about $85 million remaining on his contract, Toronto would probably think about releasing him or moving him again in a different trade. The player the Raptors may have selected in 2021 over Barnes is Kuminga, who is the true treasure in this situation. Though he plays for a struggling team, the Congolese forward has flashed dazzling potential while in Golden State.
As a 3-and-D wing, Moody has potential as well, but he hasn’t hit enough long balls to get much playing time. Joseph, a native of Toronto, is the ideal kind of bench mentor who may help the Raptors in the event that Temple is traded. If you include some picks in this surprise transaction, both parties might be pleased.