- Chris Paul was traded to the Warriors this offseason
- Pascal Siakam is extension-eligible and his future with the Raptors remains undecided
- The Warriors are unlikely to pull the trigger on this trade
Imagine a scenario where the Golden State Warriors trade their newly-minted point guard Chris Paul to the Toronto Raptors for Pascal Siakam.
That’s one of the proposed blockbuster theories doing the rounds after Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley put forth a mock trade to further bolster Golden State’s chances of winning a title. Below is a quick outline of the trade:
Golden State Warriors receive: Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors receive: Chris Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, and a 2028 first-round pick (top-seven protected)
Siakam is extension-eligible at the time of writing and there have been reports that the forward will not sign an extension with any franchise willing to trade for him. However, with the summer in NBA an unpredictable affair, anything is possible.
Siakam averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists for the Raptors this past season. The team failed to make the playoffs, and have had a torrid free agency losing their star Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets.
Keeping these factors in mind, Buckley wondered whether the Warriors’ offer of Paul and Kuminga could entice the Raptors.
“Does this Warriors offer trump that package? That depends on your evaluation of Kuminga (and the particulars on that draft compensation).”
This also comes on the back of the plans of how Paul fits into the Warriors’ scheme of things. In our opinion, this trade although intriguing has less chance of becoming a reality, especially after Steve Kerr and the Warriors have welcomed Paul with open arms.
The team has picked experience over youth and is committed to seeing the season through, hoping to win a title by the end of it.
Can The Warriors Win The Title With Chris Paul?
One of the bigger questions surrounding the Warriors is if they can win the title with Chris Paul in the mix. There have been mixed responses from analysts and fans well before the season is underway.
Earlier, NBA insider Brian Windhorst explained his feelings on Paul and Golden State’s linkup.
“I’m not sure he extends their title window,” said Windhorst. “They obviously have enormous respect for Chris Paul, that goes without saying even though he said it. The issue is, the way Chris Paul plays is not the way the Warriors play… This deal was made largely as a salary dump… Making an assumption that it’s a huge addition – I’m not there yet.”
While Paul brings a wealth of experience, the Warriors already have a starting five without him in the fold, and while Steve Kerr outlined his plans for the guard, nothing’s a given until the Warriors test the waters in the first few games of the season.
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