Toronto Raptors

Despite getting an early start on trade season, the Toronto Raptors aren't necessarily in a hurry to sell off all of their key veterans before Feb. 8.

Per Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca, one person said they "wouldn't be surprised" if the Raptors offer Pascal Siakam a contract extension even though it's been assumed he will be dealt after OG Anunoby was traded to the New York Knicks.

The Anunoby trade is fascinating because it could signal multiple things about what the Raptors want to do.

Rather than prioritize draft assets, the Raptors' primary returns in the deal were RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. They did get a 2024 second-round draft pick that belongs to the Detroit Pistons, which could end up being No. 31 overall.

That's not necessarily the type of trade to signal the Raptors want to wave the white flag this season. Barrett and Quickley are long-term plays because of their ages. Barrett is also signed to a long-term contract that runs through 2026-27.

Quickley can sign a long-term deal after this season, though he can become a restricted free agent if a contract doesn't get worked out with the Raptors.

Anunoby isn't an old player at 26, but Quickley (24) and Barrett (23) are younger than him. They will likely cost less than him by the time Anunoby ends up signing his next deal, which could be as soon as this summer if he opts out of his $19.9 million salary for next season.

Siakam is set to become a free agent this summer. The two-time All-Star has spent his entire career in Toronto since being selected with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. He's averaging more than 20 points per game for the fifth consecutive season.

The 29-year-old is shooting 52.1 percent from the field, along with 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in 34 starts this season.

Toronto is currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 14-20 record. The team is on pace to miss the playoffs for the third time in the past four seasons.

Pat Beverley thinks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley have a chance to grow into being dogs with the Toronto Raptors.

On the latest episode of his podcast, Beverley called Barrett and Quickley "pups" in analyzing the deal that sent OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks.

The deal between the Knicks and Raptors caught many people off guard because trades of this scale don't usually occur this early in the season, with the exception of someone like James Harden actively seeking his way out of a situation.

New York sent Barrett, Quickley and a 2024 second-round draft pick to Toronto for Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn.

Being referred to as a pup could be taken as a slight, but Beverley made it clear that both Barrett and Quickley have the potential to grow into dogs.

Quickley, in particular, seems like he will be able to thrive with a change of scenery. His fit on the Knicks took a significant hit when they brought in Jalen Brunson.

The Raptors can put Quickley in the starting five and keep him at point guard. He already looks very comfortable in his new home with 20.0 points per game on 53.8 percent three-point shooting in two games with Toronto.

Barrett has had good moments in his career and he's a capable wing player at the age of 23. Even if he doesn't reach the potential that was expected when the Knicks made him the No. 3 pick in the 2019 draft, the Raptors can take advantage of his skill set.

Toronto is betting on upside with both players. It's a risky gamble, to be sure, but one that could pay off huge for the franchise if they can get Quickley and Barrett to play up to their full potential.

The Toronto Raptors already traded OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks, and Pascal Siakam appears to be the next in line to be moved this winter.

Siakam is expected to be dealt by the Feb. 8 trade deadline, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps.

Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported that "chatter among NBA executives surrounding Siakam's potential landing spots has now centered on" the Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings.

He added: "Other teams mentioned, such as Dallas and Philadelphia, don't appear as viable destinations at this juncture, although Toronto officials have suggested to inquiring front offices as many as 10 teams hold legitimate interest in Siakam."

Siakam has been one of the hottest names on the trade market this winter as the Raptors enter a likely rebuild. However, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that there has been "no traction" in trade talks involving the veteran following the Anunoby deal.

Siakam is set to become a free agent after the 2023-24 campaign. However, he's only eligible to sign a two-year contract extension if he's traded at the deadline.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported Monday that if traded, 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."

Siakam has spent his entire eight-year career in Toronto, helping the franchise capture the 2019 NBA title. He has also earned the 2018-19 Most Improved Player award, two All-Star selections and two All-NBA selections.

Despite Toronto's struggles this season, the 29-year-old is still having a solid campaign—although his numbers are down across the board. He's averaging 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 34 games while shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 28.8 percent from deep.

While Siakam's numbers are down by his standards, he would still be a great addition for any contending team this year, and it's going to be interesting to see where he ends up.

If the Toronto Raptors trade Pascal Siakam ahead of the NBA's Feb. 8 deadline, the team that acquires him shouldn't expect to sign him to an extension before the end of the 2023-24 season.

Any team that acquires Siakam will only be eligible to offer him a two-year extension, and the veteran "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," according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Additionally, the list of potential Siakam suitors continues to grow as Stein reports that the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies could emerge alongside the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings as contenders for his services.

Siakam is eligible to sign a four-year, $202.3 million extension and will be eligible for a five-year supermax deal worth around $304 million if he makes the All-NBA team this year.

That said, it's no surprise he's not open to signing just a two-year deal if the Raptors trade him this winter.

But while teams appear to remain interested in Siakam's services, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that there has been "no traction" in trade talks involving the veteran after the deal that sent OG Anunoby from Toronto to the New York Knicks.

However, Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer added at the time that "league personnel are certainly prepared for a Siakam trade to follow suit."

Although Siakam is reportedly uninterested in signing an extension if traded, he would still be a tremendous addition to any contending team.

The 29-year-old, who has spent his entire eight-year career with the Raptors, is a two-time All-Star, 2019 NBA champion and has made an All-NBA team twice. In 32 games this season, he's averaging 21.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 26.1 percent from deep.

The Mavericks are certainly already contenders with a starting lineup that includes Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and Dereck Lively II. However, Siakam would undoubtedly be an upgrade over Grant Williams at the four.

Memphis also has a solid starting five with Ja Morant, Marcus Smart, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., but adding Siakam into the mix would help the franchise better contend with the likes of the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference.

Following their blockbuster trade with the New York Knicks on Saturday, the Toronto Raptors are reportedly open to moving two-time All-Star forward Pascal Siakam as well.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Raptors are exploring trades involving Siakam, but there has been "no traction" in those talks yet. Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer added that "league personnel are certainly prepared for a Siakam trade to follow suit."

Wojnarowski initially reported Saturday that the Raptors agreed to send OG Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa to the Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and the Detroit Pistons' 2024 second-round draft pick.

Anunoby was likely to become a free agent at the end of the season by declining his option. while Siakam's contract officially expires after the current campaign.

The 29-year-old Siakam is in the midst of his eighth NBA season, all of which have been spent in Toronto.

In 2018-19, Siakam was named the NBA's Most Improved Player, and he played a key role in Toronto winning its first and only championship that season.

When Kawhi Leonard left in free agency after just one season, Siakam became the Raptors' go-to guy and earned All-Star selection in 2019-20 and last season.

After averaging a career-high 24.2 points per game last season, Siakam is putting up 21.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest in 31 games this season.

The Raptors lost longtime starting point guard and leader Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets in free agency during the offseason, and it has seemingly taken a toll on the team, as they are just 12-19 so far this season.

With Toronto on the fringes of playoff contention and highly unlikely to be championship contenders, trading Siakam rather than potentially letting him walk for nothing in free agency as it did with VanVleet may be the best course of action.

The Raptors already have a talented, young core in place with Scottie Barnes, Barrett and Quickley, and trading Siakam would likely bring in more young players and draft picks.

Toronto may not be able to get quite as much for Siakam as it could have last year or the year before since he is on an expiring contract, but a contending team would likely part with a solid package for a player who consistently averages over 20 points per game.

New Raptors forward RJ Barrett is ready for his Toronto homecoming.

Barrett, who was included in the trade that sent OG Anunoby from the Raptors to the New York Knicks on Saturday, "sees Toronto as a great option," according to SNY's Ian Begley.

Barrett "loves New York and loved the idea of remaining in New York," according to Begley. However, the veteran is a Toronto native, a big part of the Canadian national team and now gets the rare opportunity to play for his hometown team.

That said, it's no surprise he's intrigued by the opportunity to suit up for the Raptors.

The Knicks selected Barrett third overall in the 2019 draft out of Duke and he emerged as a solid offensive contributor for the franchise. Through 26 games this season, the 23-year-old is averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 42.3 percent from the floor and 33.1 percent from deep.

After putting up career numbers during the 2021-22 season—20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 70 games—the Knicks awarded Barrett with a four-year extension worth up to $120 million.

Barrett is under contract through the 2026-27 season and now figures to be a big piece of Toronto's impending rebuild alongside Scottie Barnes.

Pascal Siakam has been included in numerous trade rumors this winter as he's set to hit free agency after the 2023-24 season, and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday that the franchise will continue to explore trades involving the veteran.

The Raptors will be back in action on Saturday against the 2-29 Detroit Pistons, though the trade still needs to be processed by the league office. It's possible he could suit up when Toronto hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

Whenever Barrett does make his home debut for the Raptors, he's sure to receive a warm welcome.

The Toronto Raptors have been heavily included in trade rumors this winter amid a disappointing start to the 2023-24 campaign, but it appears the franchise isn't ready to enter full teardown mode just yet.

The Raptors have "no appetite for a reset, teardown or rebuild" ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, according to Sportsnet's Michael Grange.

Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby—two of Toronto's biggest stars—have been linked in trade rumors over the last month with teams like the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks among those reportedly interested in their services.

Siakam is in the final year of his contract and is set to hit free agency this summer. While he has been one of Toronto's best players since making his debut in 2016, the Raptors currently have no plans to offer him an extension tight now, Grange reported.

Grange wrote:

To start with, not in the plan for the moment is an extension for Siakam, who can sign with Toronto for up to four years and $192 million until June 30. There have been framework-type conversations since the early days of the season, per league sources, and each side has eyed Dec. 30 as a potential impetus to reach decision. Given that no agreement has been reached, it seems safe to infer the Raptors' interests lie in something closer to the three-year extension that they offered at the beginning of the 2022-23 season that Siakam rejected.

Anunoby, meanwhile, has a player option for 2024-25 worth $19.9 million that he can decline to become a free agent this summer.

It's unclear where the Raptors stand on offering Anunoby an extension, though the "consensus" among NBA executives who spoke with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype is that Siakam "would be the one more likely of the two players to be traded."

Although the Raptors sit 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 12-18 record, Siakam continues to play well. He's averaging 21.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 30 games while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and 24.1 percent from deep.

The same can be said for Anunoby, who's averaging 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 26 games while shooting 48.6 percent from the floor and 37.1 percent from deep.

If the Raptors have no plans of entering a full rebuild, they're going to have to make some significant roster additions either at the trade deadline or over the summer if they hope to compete with the Eastern Conference's best.

Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are two of the biggest trade candidates on the market this winter, but it appears the Toronto Raptors could be more likely to move on from one player than the other.

Among NBA executives who spoke with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the "consensus" is that Siakam "would be the one more likely of the two players to be traded."

Siakam is in the final year of his contract with the Raptors and Anunoby holds a player option worth $19.9 million for 2024-25 that he's likely to decline to hit free agency this summer.

With the Raptors continuing to fall out of playoff contention in the Eastern Conference, sitting 12th with an 11-16 record, it's no surprise the franchise is considering moving on from two of its best players and beginning a rebuild.

Siakam is being eyed by a number of teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings. Anunoby is also drawing plenty of interest, with the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks reportedly among the teams keeping tabs on him.

Siakam has spent his entire eight-year career in Toronto, helping the franchise win an NBA title in 2019. And despite the team's woes this season, he's still playing some solid basketball, averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 27 games while shooting 50.7 percent from the floor and 26.0 percent from deep.

Anunoby has also spent his entire career with the Raptors and was a member of the team's 2019 title-winning squad. Through 23 games this season, he's averaging 14.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 37.2 percent from deep.

Perhaps the Raptors view Siakam as the more valuable player, meaning they could receive larger assets in exchange for the veteran. Or maybe they just simply don't want to pay him once he hits free agency.

Regardless, it's unclear what the Raptors are looking for in exchange from either player, but there's no doubt either would be a tremendous addition to a championship-contending squad.

The trade market has been dominated by reports about the impending trade of Chicago Bulls small forward Zach LaVine.

Rumors continue to link him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Part of that can be attributed to his career three-point shooting percentage of 38.2, an area in which the Lakers could improve.

To acquire a player of LaVine's stature would likely require the gutting of the team's depth, which it spent the entire offseason acquiring, in an attempt to make up for the mammoth $43 million due to the Bulls star this season.

He is due just south of $46 million in 2024-25, which would seemingly restrict the team in terms of the salary cap and the luxury tax.

There is another option in the form of Gary Trent Jr., whose 38.2 three-point percentage is higher than LaVine's and is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. More impressively is that 38.2 represents Trent's worst since the 2020-21 season.

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie has Trent on its trade board at No. 11, with the Lakers and 76ers as the best fits for the guard, with a market value of multiple second-round picks.

The Lakers have a second in 2024, two in 2025, and one in 2027.

The team is already over $44 million in the salary cap so it may be difficult to execute a deal without Los Angeles offloading a player or two. The Lakers do have D'Angelo Russell on the roster, with another year on his deal, and could conceivably include him in the deal.

Trent, statistically, has had a down year but a change of scenery could help. He has already come off the bench in Toronto, so it would not be a big ask for him to do the same for the Lakers.

With 10.3 points per game, 1.9 rebounds, and 24.7 minutes a game, he can be an asset that adds depth to a roster still trying to figure out exactly what it is amid a plethora of early season injuries, including those to Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, and Gabe Vincent.

More importantly, he can do it without restricting the team financially for the next two seasons and threaten its roster depth, which trading for LaVine would.