Trade rumours continue to swirl around Raptors star Pascal Siakam
The Raptors have not signed Siakam to an extension ahead of his free agency this summer, feeding into rumours that he is on the trading block.
The Pascal Siakam trade rumour mill continues to roll as the entire league awaits to see what lies ahead for the Raptors all-star.
The latest reporting by The Athletic’s Shams Charania indicates the Raptors are engaged in active talks with Indiana Pacers, who are “motivated” to acquire Siakam.
“Indiana is very much pushing and motivated to get a deal done,” Charania said Wednesday morning when he appeared on the Basketball On X show. He mentioned the deal could centre on as many as three first-round draft picks in exchange for Siakam, and that the Pacers don’t want to part ways with Canadian shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin or rookie Jarace Walker.
The Pascal Siakam trade rumour mill continues to roll as the entire league awaits to see what lies ahead for the Raptors all-star.
The latest reporting by The Athletic’s Shams Charania indicates the Raptors are engaged in active talks with Indiana Pacers, who are “motivated” to acquire Siakam.
“Indiana is very much pushing and motivated to get a deal done,” Charania said Wednesday morning when he appeared on the Basketball On X show. He mentioned the deal could centre on as many as three first-round draft picks in exchange for Siakam, and that the Pacers don’t want to part ways with Canadian shooting guard Bennedict Mathurin or rookie Jarace Walker.
Fellow NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was asked about the status of a Siakam trade on the social media app Threads on Wednesday.
“As we have reported, Toronto has been engaging for weeks on a possible Siakam trade and those talks continue,” Wojnarowski wrote. “Indiana is certainly a team that remains interested.”
Siakam, a two-time all-star and all-NBA player who was a key cog in the 2019 Raptors championship run, is in the final year of his four-year, $136-million (U.S.) contract. Toronto has not signed him to an extension ahead of his free agency this summer, feeding into rumours that the 29-year-old is on the trading block.
Former Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who was instrumental on that championship run, called Siakam the ultimate professional athlete capable of handling trade rumours to keep performing at a high level.
“Pascal, my beloved one is one of the most coveted players in our league, one of the most talented players in our league,” Lowry told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s Miami-Toronto game at Scotiabank Arena. “Whatever happens with him he will be successful and I’m always going to love him and support him.”
A former winner of the most improved player award, Siakam is having another stellar season with the Raptors, averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
Previous reports surrounding a potential trade for Siakam have indicated that the star player has not committed to signing long-term with whichever team he gets traded to, an element that could be delaying negotiations.
“If a team knows that he is going to be willing to sign there, then you give the assets necessary,” Charania added.
Prior to Indiana emerging as a potential destination for Siakam, other teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors were reported to be in the running for his services. So were the Sacramento Kings, before reportedly withdrawing from the talks.
Earlier this month when the Raptors were on a west coast road trip, both president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster were seen with the team at various stops, chatting with officials from other teams — which added to the rumour mill.
The Raptors’ season has been a roller-coaster as the team navigates through a new coaching system after hiring Darko Rajakovic last summer to take over the mantle from the fired Nick Nurse.
A little over two months into the tumultuous season, changes began when the team traded its best defender OG Anunoby (packaged together with Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn) to the New York Knicks in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a draft pick.
The team boasts an abysmal 15-25 record heading into Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat, good for 12th in the East and out of the playoff picture with a little more than half a season to go.
Siakam and backup centre Chris Boucher are the last two players remaining in Toronto from the roster that won the 2019 championship, the only title in the Raptors’ 29-year history.
By trading away Siakam, the Raptors could be signalling the start of a rebuilding process centred around budding star Scottie Barnes.
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