With the Toronto Raptors already making significant moves ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, the trade buzz continues, and Pascal Siakam’s name is at the forefront.
NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski shared insights into Siakam’s situation as the trade deadline approaches. Siakam, in the final year of his contract, has been a subject of trade rumors, and Toronto seems motivated to explore options if a contract extension isn’t viable.
Wojnarowski discussed the Raptors’ strategy, emphasizing the need to build a team around 22-year-old Scottie Barnes. Siakam, nearing 30, has shown resurgence on the court, adding value but also posing a potential free agency risk for Toronto.
Reflecting on the dilemma, Wojnarowski stated, “If you’re not going to resign him, you can’t let him walk.” The Raptors face a delicate balance of maximizing Siakam’s trade value while ensuring a beneficial deal for the team.
Despite Siakam’s impressive season stats, averaging 22.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 35.1 minutes per game, the uncertainty of his contract status adds complexity to the trade discussions.
“I think for Siakam there’s some leverage in that if a team’s going to trade for him, they want to know that they can resign him, that he’ll want to be here and that’s going to dictate how much they might offer Toronto in a deal,” Wojnarowski said on ESPN’s NBA Today.
“But I do think there’s a window here here the Raptors get to see what Siakam looks like with RJ Barrett, with Immanuel Quickley and this group with the Raptors. But certainly I think that’s going to be a player here we’re going to watch over the next month.”
