Pascal Siakam is a former All-Star who was part of the 2019 championship core for the Toronto Raptors. Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry are now gone from the franchise, and it looks as though Pascal Siakam will be the new face of the Toronto Raptors going into next season.
Despite the fact that Pascal Siakam is one of the best players on the Raptors, there have been prior reports that suggested Pascal Siakam is up for trade. The Toronto Raptors are likely going through a rebuild, and it makes sense to move a long-term contract for more assets to aid the rebuild.
Even with all the trade rumors swirling around, Pascal Siakam hasn’t yet been traded. In fact, Sam Amick of The Athletic has suggested that the Toronto Raptors don’t want to trade Pascal Siakam.
Do the Raptors actually want to move Siakam?
Based on conversations with several people close to the situation in Vegas, I’d venture to say no — at least for now. They will continue to listen to the calls that come their way, which is no different from what the recently re-signed Masai Ujiri (now president and vice chairman) and general manager Bobby Webster have always done.
But sources say Ujiri has recently made it clear to Siakam’s side that he’s not being shopped, and that there’s a clear basketball vision here for how these pieces — old and new — can work. Nonetheless, the combination of the changing Raptors landscape and that well-chronicled friction with coach Nick Nurse last season had led many to believe Siakam’s days were numbered there.
There is no doubt that Pascal Siakam could be a difference-maker for any team that wants him. Despite the Toronto Raptors and the forward struggling as a whole last season, Pascal Siakam is still a good player who can be a great supplementary offensive option on a contending team.
