The Raptors are reportedly cooking up something with one of their longest-tenured stars after trading away forward OG Anunoby to the Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round pick on Dec. 30.
Some league sources expect All-Star forward Pascal Siakam to get dealt before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Prior to the Raptors-Knicks trade, both Anunoby and Siakam were Toronto’s longest-tenured players, and they helped the organization win its first championship in 2019.
Siakam, a two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection with the Raptors, is putting up good numbers— averaging 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 34 games while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, but just 28.8 percent on 3-pointers.
Siakam is also in the last of a four-year, $137 million contract, with $37.9 million coming to him this season, and is on track to hit unrestricted free agency this summer.
Potential landing spots for Siakam currently include the Pistons, Pacers, Kings, Mavericks and 76ers, according to Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer.
“Toronto officials have suggested to inquiring front offices as many as 10 teams hold legitimate interest in Siakam,” sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Atlanta Hawks were reportedly in “serious talks” with the Raptors last offseason about a potential Siakam deal.
On Monday, NBA insider Marc Stein reported that Siakam “would prefer, again, to proceed to unrestricted free agency … meaning that any team that trades for him now must be daring enough to roll those dice,” as transcribed by Bleacher Report.
The Raptors have a decision on their hands … or do they?
In the aftermath of the Anunoby deal, ESPN reported Saturday that “there are no deals with traction now” concerning Siakam.
Toronto can still sign Siakam to a four-year extension before he hits free agency this summer.
However, he’s only eligible to sign a two-year contract extension if he’s traded at the deadline.
A former first-round pick (27th overall) by the Raptors in the 2016 NBA Draft, Siakam has spent his entire eight-year career in Toronto.