The Dallas Mavericks improved to 19-14 following a 132-122 road victory over the Golden State Warriors, with Luka Doncic providing 39 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists, setting the tone.
As the team vies for title contention, the focus on the big picture naturally becomes what roster moves could transpire. Following O.G. Anunoby being traded to the New York Knicks, Pascal Siakam has quickly emerged as a significant name to watch on the NBA trade block ahead of the Feb. 8 deadline.
According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, after trading Anunoby to the Knicks, the Raptors will likely generate trade interest for Siakam from the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and the Mavs. “Certainly, the view among the league insiders I spoke with after the Knicks trade broke was that the Raptors are likely just getting started.
Siakam is likely going to be pursued by the Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, and the Dallas Mavericks, per league sources.” Siakam is having a down year compared to his All-NBA seasons, but still has averaged 21.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 32 games. He’s shooting 51.2 percent from the floor but has converted at just a 26.1 percent clip from deep and 74.6 percent on free throws.
He remains one of the more productive power forwards in the league. The 2023-24 season marks the final of Siakam’s four-year, $136.9 million contract, meaning he will reach unrestricted free agency this summer without a contract extension.
Toronto must resolve his situation before it’s too late to avoid risking his departure while being left without anything to show for it. With the Raptors acquiring R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley as the headliners of a trade return that featured no first-round picks for Anunoby, the focus appears to be to add helpful players to build around Scottie Barnes as the franchise cornerstone.
The Mavs are limited to parting with a 2027 first-round pick in terms of available first-round picks that can be moved during the season. This will not change until their final first-round pick owed to the Knicks for the Kristaps Porzingis trade made in 2019 conveys, which hasn’t yet since it carries a top 10 protection through 2025. As long as Luka Doncic continues playing at an MVP-caliber level with Kyrie Irving on the roster, the team can do damage in the postseason.
Dereck Lively II has emerged as a legitimate rim protector and interior play finisher, while Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. have been standout offseason additions.
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