There has been increased talk around the NBA about the Raptors moving Pascal Siakam, with the Pacers viewed as a “legitimate trade contender” for the star forward, league sources tell Marc Stein at Substack.
The Hawks are another team that has been repeatedly linked to Siakam, Stein notes, and other unknown teams are likely in the mix as well.
Stein’s read on the situation in Toronto is that the Raptors want to give Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby a bigger opportunity to expand their offensive games, particularly with Fred VanVleet‘s departure to Houston. Siakam’s heavy usage rate seems to stand in the way of that happening, according to Stein, who points out that Siakam (29) is several years older than Barnes (21) and Anunoby (25).
After a weekend at Summer League, Stein views a trade as a “far more likely outcome” than a contract extension. As of last week, Siakam and the Raptors had yet to formally meet to discuss a possible contract extension.
Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca was first to report the Pacers’ interest in Siakam. He also wrote that the veteran’s absence at Summer League could be viewed as a sign that Siakam might be dealt, with the Raptors hoping to find a deal sooner rather than later.
A two-time All-NBA member, Siakam reportedly doesn’t want to play anywhere but Toronto. He averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 71 games (37.4 minutes) last season, with the points and assists per game representing career highs.
Hield, Mathurin, Smith, Nembhard and a 1st money works out) for Siakam
Giving up both Mathurin and Nembhard would be silly.
Terrible trade for the Pacers. You do realize Pascal is on the final year of his deal? Nobody with a brain is making this deal.
Yeah, but it’s not like they can sign him outright. Bird rights matter in the NBA, plus it’ll take less salary to match now vrs a sign and trade.
They’ll only have non Bird rights after one year. That’s a 20% raise but no more. If he’s traded his new team will be very unlikely to sign him long term, unless they use cap room like any other suitor would.
This will be a dump. Picks and salary match, no more. Toronto would be clearing him a year early and banking some future assets.
Pass on Hield
McConnell Smith Mathurin Theis and Nwora. Keep the 1st. Raptors would be lucky to land Mathurin. McConnell can step in as a veteran pg for a team that just lost Van Vleet. Get some depth pieces in Smith Theis and Nwora
It has to be a win win trade, I’d rather take the picks. Heild, can be flipped elsewhere at the deadline.
No idea what a trade would look like between these two teams because they both seem to be caught in that no man’s land and have not completely picked a direction. Not good enough to make a playoff run, not bad enough to tank.
Indy has picked a direction it’s just a little more complex than 2k
The next time tanking works will be the first time. Only thing left is to find a cute little name when/if it does ( the process obv taken already )
They have? You wouldn’t know it by the way they rested players and tanked their way out of playoff contention during 2022-2023.
And their team got better, so will they start sitting players again if the team is better than they assume it to be?
I ask again when has tanking worked ?
You seem to think there’s only 2 directions here and Indy’s not good enough ( in your opinion ) to go for it.
What would you do if Indy’s owner ?
I would say tanking worked out pretty well for the Cavs, multiple times. They did it to get lebron, and then after lebron left they got Kyrie and bron came back after all the tanking. They weren’t fielding competitive teams. It also worked for the spurs too when they got Tim Duncan the year DRob got hurt and they punted the season, even tho they were a perennial playoff team. And they got wemby after obviously tanking last year. Will that lead to a title, who knows, but they got the desired result from their tank job. The warriors punted a season too when they got hit with the injury bug. Teams do it all the time, some teams win titles, some teams don’t. It’s not the only component to winning a title and shouldn’t be the only barometer for success of a strategy
Sas gsw didn’t tear down teams to get there
Cle was terrible already.
Being in no man’s land is not a reason to go backwards, too many times we want to burn a perfectly fine roadmap for some lottery balls is what I’ve seen on these boards more and more on these boards as the years go by
@human rain delay Why is it any different if you sit players or trade them in your tank job? Sas and gsw one might argue did worse than tearing it down, they held out players that probably could have played in order to increase their lottery odds during a lost season. It’s manipulation any way you slice it.
Spurs weren’t a perennial contender until Duncan arrived – that’s when the streak began. The Spurs also didn’t tank last year, they were really that bad, but let’s say they did, they still had two other teams with equal chances percentage wise to claim the first pick. There were no guarantees even if they tanked…ask Houston.
@padam What are you talking about weren’t a contender? Tim Duncan was drafted in 1997, the spurs tanked in 96/97 winning only 20 games. They won 59 the year before. the spurs went to the playoffs 7 straight years until the tank for Duncan. Winning more than 55 games five times and more than 60 once. Only two teams this year won more than 55 games. It was blatant as heck they were losing for Duncan.
Trading dejounte Murray and poetl, and every other decent player they had wasn’t tanking? You sure about that? Also, I said they got the desired result…never said it was a guarantee.
Spurs didn’t tank. The Admiral had a back injury early in the year. A scary one too. One of the reasons they drafted Duncan is back problems are tricky and can end a career. So no that does not at all qualify for a tank job.
Don’t forget all the other drafts the NBA tried to help Cleveland
Indy’s issue is that they don’t want to tank because as a small market team they’re worried about alienating the fan base and completely botching a tank/rebuild job that sets the franchise back further, which could be a death sentence for a small market team. However, because they’re a small market team its extremely tough for them to convince stars to sign with them in free agency (regardless of if its worth it or not) so they have to find stars through the draft or in savvy trades. But since they try to avoid actively/blatantly tanking they often find themselves in the mid to late lottery which is usually out of range of those foundational star players at the top of the draft (and yes star players can be drafted outside the top 3-5 but those tend to be exceptions rather than the rule). Mathurin going 6th last year was the highest they have picked since 1988 when they took Rik Smits at 2. The Pacers forever being in no man’s land is by design because of their justifiable concerns of bottoming out.
This is correct. The Simons who own the Pacers have never adhered to the tanking philosophy. I do think that since they traded Sabonis, they have not given up any long term assets. Which is good when playing the long game rebuild, but with a healthy Haliburton & Turner they should be a playoff team this year, especially with improved defense. So they are towing the line between rebuild and going for it.
Both teams should be better. I think Toronto did well not resigning FVV. Indy stole Toppin too. Can’t wait for the season.
And in Toronto’s case, I think a new head coach will make a big difference. Not to say Nurse isn’t a good coach given the right circumstances—veteran roster with versatile defenders—but it’s clear he was no longer a good fit at the end, both schematically and as manager of the locker room. I think folks are underestimating the impact this will have coupled with the other offseason changes.
@shea one thing to remember about nurse is that kawhi won the Raps that title.
The Raptors are on the verge of becoming the new Wizards, they need a direction, makes no sense to be a middling team when you have two assets on expiring deals.
If the Pacers can do it for Buddy, Thies, TJ, and picks AND Siakam will agree to an extension… then okay. If not, it is pointless to trade for him, maybe better to position yourself to open up a max slot for next year between now and the trade deadline.
When have the Pacers signed a max guy from outside the org?
Agreed, they aren’t a FA destination. It would be tough for them to land a star outside of a trade
No I get that. But they are going to have to give up picks for a guy who could be gone next year, and they aren’t 1 guy away from making a championship run. I would just target a guy with more than 1 year on his contract.
How many teams have cap space though? If a team is going to sign hin they’ll have to work out a sign and trade with Indy or whoever. Indy can offer more money and say no, it’s pretty unlikely he’d sign elsewhere
Next year? If he’s available someone can get that far under the cap easy.
Siakam is the guy they should trade. After 12 months of appearing to consider everything and nothing, TOR gets to the right place.
Siakam and Barnes are not compatible, at least with 5 like Poetl, and Barnes is younger with more position flexibility. Siakam is a one position 4. He does have great top line numbers. But he doesn’t shoot the 3 well and is a mediocre rebounder. His assist totals are born of ball stoppage and turnovers. He’s overpaid now, and is on an expiring deal (rental) looking for a possible super-max extension.
Trade Siakam, get anything of value in return
He can come back on a sweet contract that’s extremely team friendly and fit in behind Scottie and OG.
Win win
Siakam already has 9 figures of earnings. Wtf does he expect?
Thanks for the laugh. I needed it.
Wallace, Nembhard, 1frp, and hield for salary matching.
With addition of Topin and now Siakam, there will be jam on f position. And Nembhard us in position where Hali was with Kings, there just better pg in front of him.
Not even close to enough for salary match. Need $10m+ on top of Hield.
Poor Obi Toppin will he ever find a starting gig. Wanted out of New York to get playing time now will have to sit behind Siakam
I’m sure there’s going to be some injuries so he’ll get the chance
Is a Chris Paul-Siakam trade even feasible? If so: HAHAHA to the league.
Why would either team do that?
Why would Indiana want to do this? They need young prospects and not veterans. Doesn’t fit the starting lineup age group
The Raptors finally have a player than wants to be in Toronto, why would they wanna trade him? Sure he doesn’t fit the age of the teams other corner stones, but he’s still a star in this league , and he wants to be in T.O.
You just said why, it’s also a way to keep OG. If we don’t put players around Scotties timeline, we’ll be in the same spot in 3 years and be a middling team. If you want to be a
OKC is a fit. They could line Siakam up next to Holmgren in the front court. The Thunder have tons of draft picks & also have tons of guards they could move in part of a deal. They’re obviously not moving SGA, but they have a lot of other options to include
Pascal doesn’t really make any sense after getting Obi Toppin and drafting Jarace Walker.
Had this deal been done before the draft and it was Heild, Theis, the 7th pick in the draft or whatever it was and another future first then it would make sense.
Feel like this story is only been put out to make the hawks more desperate and meet the raptors demands as they have been talking for a while about a deal.
In that scenario Murray is ineligible for a trade, I doubt they care for Bogi, or Capela. Collins just got moved, so not him. Hunter and young guns and picks could make a deal but he’s to similar to Scottie and OG that would just be a dumb downgrade. So really it has to be for Trae Young, which makes sense as they lack a starting point guard with FVV leaving.
Trae has come up in rumours that’s he’s not untouchable anymore, however he is still more valuable then Pascal in the final year of his deal.
So really it’ll be to push that deal over the line.
Wonder who ATL want as extra compensation or what they want
Any Siakam trade includes Bufkin & Griffin (Hawks) Mathurin & Nembhard (Pacers) Dyson & Jones (Pelicans) or I keep him
Raptors fans are being delusional if they think that Pacers would give up Mathurin, Nembard, or anything other than a couple of second-round picks and a pick swap for the expiring contract of Siakam. With a strong draft that brought in promising young wings, Indiana is retooling to be an uptempo team that will push the pace of the game and not have to rely as much on players like Siakam whose strength is in half-court sets. Most likely, the Pacers are going to hold onto Buddy Hield as well and pair him with Nembhard and Haliburton in the starting lineup. Duarte was the odd man out and will likely flourish with the Kings, thus freeing up more playing time for Mathurin and rookie Ben Sheppard.