Toronto Raptors

Pascal Siakam has played 495 games for the Toronto Raptors, having spent his entire eight-year NBA career with the franchise. A two-time All-Star, the 29-year-old forward was part of the Raptors when they won their first championship in 2019.

It makes sense why Toronto has held onto Siakam and continued to build around the 6-foot-8 standout from Cameroon. However, it could soon make greater sense for the Raptors to consider shopping Siakam ahead of the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 8.

According to Michael Grange of Sportsnet, there is expected to be a "fairly robust market" for Siakam as trade discussions occur over the next two months. One potential suitor? Perhaps the Atlanta Hawks.

"The Hawks and Raptors discussed various permutations of a trade for Siakam this past summer," Grange wrote, "with things advancing enough that Atlanta had contacted Siakam's representation to take measure of how open the eight-year veteran would be to signing an extension with the Hawks if the deal went through."

If Atlanta was that serious about trying to acquire Siakam, then it could be part of the market for the forward now that the 2023-24 season is underway. That could especially be the case if he's open to inking a long-term deal with the franchise.

Siakam, who is making $37.89 million this season, is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. It would cost the Hawks quite a bit to keep him around beyond the end of the season.

But Siakam would likely be worth it. He is averaging 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists through 24 games this season. He has averaged at least 21 points per contest every season dating back to the 2019-20 campaign.

Atlanta is 10-14 and sitting in 10th in the Eastern Conference. It could use an additional star player to help it move up the standings, and Siakam would surely fill that role.

Siakam could be a great fit in a Hawks lineup that features the talented backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Siakam would then give the team a much stronger presence in the post.

However, Toronto may be looking for a solid return in a trade, even though Siakam is in a contract year. Grange noted the Raptors "aren't known for selling low," so that could impact potential negotiations with trade partners.

As long as the cost isn't too high, Atlanta should make a strong push to land Siakam. And if it can ensure he'll sign a long-term extension as well, then it would make sense for the Hawks to part with some draft capital to pull off a trade.

Trade rumors involving Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam continue to heat up.

The Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings have been linked to a trade for Siakam this winter, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. However, the Pacers and Kings "appear more vested in the possibility of landing [OG] Anunoby," Fischer added.

Both Siakam and Anunoby have been heavily involved in trade rumors this winter as both are in the final year of their contracts.

The Hawks have been linked to Siakam since before the 2023-24 season. Atlanta attempted to land the veteran over the summer and were willing to give up De'Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin and draft compensation to land him, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported in August.

Siakam would be an upgrade for the Hawks at forward, especially with Jalen Johnson sidelined with a left wrist fracture, and he would be a solid fit alongside Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and Clint Capela.

The Pacers, meanwhile, have excelled with Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith this season, but with the team in contention to land a playoff spot for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign, it's no surprise they're exploring the possibility of adding Siakam.

Adding Siakam to an Indiana lineup that includes Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner would surely propel the team to a playoff berth.

The Kings have also been solid this year, but adding Siakam alongside De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis could help them make a deep playoff run after being eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the first round last season.

Siakam, who has spent his entire eight-year career in Toronto, is in the midst of another solid season. He's averaging 21.2 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 24 games while shooting 50.4 percent from the floor and 25.3 percent from deep.

The 29-year-old is eligible to sign a four-year, $202.3 million extension. However, he could become eligible for a five-year supermax deal worth roughly $304 million if he makes the All-NBA team this year.

The Toronto Raptors aren't willing to tear it down just yet with a little less than two months left before what could be a pivotal NBA trade deadline, according to Action Network's Matt Moore.

Moore reported the Raptors "are likely to build around" Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby, with Pascal Siakam potentially landing with a team "willing to pay him this summer." Moore questioned, however, whether Siakam's impending free agency and expected contract demands could cool his trade market.

Siakam is an unrestricted free agent, while Anunoby can and presumably will opt out of the $19.9 salary he can collect for next season. That presents a sense of urgency for the front office.

The Raptors are more talented than their 9-14 record and 11th-place position in the Eastern Conference. The trio of Barnes, Siakam and Anunoby is a solid foundation for a contender as well.

From that standpoint, a desire to retool rather than rebuild is understandable.

The trouble is, Toronto has attempted to retool ever since Kawhi Leonard left after the franchise's 2019 NBA Finals triumph. So far, that has netted two playoff trips in four seasons, one ending in the conference semifinals and the other resulting in a first-round exit.

In addition, the Raptors already experienced the dangers of letting a key player hit the open market. Fred VanVleet left to sign with the Houston Rockets over the summer, and his old team was left without the ability to get an adequate replacement. Dennis Schröder came in on a two-year, $25.4 million deal to become the starting point guard.

Both Siakam and Anunoby figure to have robust markets once their contracts expire, so Toronto will have competition.

Siakam is averaging 20.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists, though his three-point shooting (21.2) has noticeably fallen off. Still, he's a two-time All-NBA honoree who, at 29, has plenty of good years left.

Anunoby, meanwhile, continues to be an effective two-way presence. He's shooting 39.4 percent from beyond the arc and averaging 1.1 steals.

Trading at least one of Siakam or Anunoby is the most sensible path, and some fans will argue jettisoning both and starting anew is the best long-term play.

If they're intent on building around Barnes and Anunoby, then dealing Siakam before Feb. 8 has to be the move for the Raptors. They can't afford to repeat the mistake of holding onto VanVleet and losing him for nothing.

The Toronto Raptors foreshadowed potential legal action against the New York Knicks for defamation as part of the ongoing legal matter between the two NBA organizations, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes.

The Raptors said in a legal filing Monday the defendants the Knicks named in their original lawsuit are leaving the door open for a countersuit, contending New York is in "clear violation of criminal and civil law."

The Knicks first filed suit in August, alleging former employee Ikechukwu Azotam provided proprietary information to the Raptors as Toronto was recruiting him for a position within the organization.

New York contends that Darko Rajaković, whom the Raptors hired this offseason, was attempting to gain an added edge as he approached his first season as an NBA head coach. Among the information allegedly provided by Azotam was play frequency reports and video scouting compiled by Knicks staffers.

In October, lawyers for the Raptors called the lawsuit "baseless" and a "public relations stunt by the Knicks." They also questioned whether the information at the center of the suit was proprietary since it was compiled from widely available sources.

Toronto also requested NBA commissioner Adam Silver be tasked with arbitrating the matter rather than putting in the hands of the court. The Athletic's Eric Koreen, Fred Katz, Mike Vorkunov reported in August that some inside the league office "were surprised when the suit dropped" since situations like this would typically be resolved through the NBA itself.

In November, the Knicks questioned whether Silver would be a neutral party due partially to his strong rapport with Raptors governor Larry Tanenbaum, per Holmes.

"Among other things, Tanenbaum has been described as 'a close ally of Commissioner Adam Silver,'" the team said in a filing. "Silver himself described Tanenbaum as 'not just my boss as the chairman of the board of governors, but he's very much a role model in my life.' If Silver were to preside over the instant dispute, he would be arbitrating a case for his boss and ally."

The Raptors disputed that point in their newest filing.

"The NBA Commissioner is not biased and he is the best person to adjudicate this dispute because of his ability to identify what, if any, information is confidential and proprietary such that its misuse may harm a Member like the Knicks," they said.

Lawyers for the team went on to argue the Knicks "know they will not like his determination" and that keeping this in the U.S. District Court will effectively result in the defendants' names being dragged through the mud.

A spokesperson for MSG reiterated the Knicks' desire to take arbitration off the table, per Holmes.

"Hopefully the Court will make it clear that Toronto cannot escape the consequence of breaking the law by being a member of the NBA," they said.

The Indiana Pacers gave the basketball world a glimpse of the bright future the team has by way of its appearance in the NBA In-Season Tournament Championship game.

To get there, the team knocked off the top four seeds from last year's Eastern Conference playoffs (Cleveland, Philadelphia, Boston, and Milwaukee) and played the eventual tournament-winning Lakers hard.

It was during that finale, though, that it became clear that the team has a stud point guard in Tyrese Haliburton but lacks a legitimate and consistent No. 2 behind him.

Enter the Toronto Raptors, whose season has not gone according to plan, with a record of 9-14 and no realistic chance of competing for an NBA title this season, and two potential trade pieces in OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam at their disposal.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported, "Teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers are expected suitors for Siakam or Anunoby but believe Siakam appears to be the likelier player to be dealt, league sources tell The Athletic."

He continued, "Siakam, 29, is earning $37.9 million in the last year of his Raptors contract this season while Anunoby, 26, has a $19.9 million player option for next season that he will almost assuredly decline to enter free agency."

The power forward Siakam is averaging 20.7 points a game, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in 34.4 minutes. Those numbers are all significantly better than what the Pacers are getting out of Obi Toppin this year, with the exception being shooting percentage.

Siakam is a dismal 20.7 from beyond the arc and just 49.7 from the paint while Toppin is shooting 35.7 from the three-point line and 61.1 percent in the paint.

Anunoby is scoring 15.6 a game, with 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and just over a steal at the small forward position. Bruce Brown's numbers are not that far off at 12.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

Considering Anunoby is likely to elect free agency after the season, it is a tough sell for any team to trade roster depth and potential draft picks for a player who is essentially a rental.

Siakam is also in the final year of his deal but is a player who could come in right away and pay dividends as a complimentary piece to Haliburton.

He still manages to get his points and boards, even if the shooting percentage is not there this season, and averaging nearly five assists per game, can dish the ball and create opportunities for his teammates.

He brings a veteran presence to a locker room that is young, hungry, and looking to establish itself in the same conversation as those teams it defeated in the tournament. Haliburton cannot do it alone and the fact that the Pacers have checked in on both Anunoby and Siakam suggests the front office realizes that.

Acquiring either player will not be easy, especially in the case of Siakam, for whom the Pacers would have to clear some space thanks to his contract ($37,893,408) and their limited cap space ($5,851,626), but the team has proven the ability to compete against the best in the conference and management owes it to the players to put the necessary pieces in place to let them do so.

If the team can acquire either Raptors veteran and do so without gutting the roster or mortgaging its future for a player it could realistically only have for the remainder of this season, Indiana should make it happen and capitalize on the budding star it has in Haliburton, who could very well be for them what the team has not had since the days of Reggie Miller: a franchise centerpiece.

The Toronto Raptors are struggling early in the 2023-14 season, off to a 9-13 start. And that has teams inquiring about players like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby ahead of February's NBA trade deadline.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, "Teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers are expected suitors for Siakam or Anunoby but believe Siakam appears to be the likelier player to be dealt."

The 29-year-old Siakam (20.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.0 APG) and 26-year-old Anunoby (14.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 38.8 percent from three) have attracted the attention of teams like the Hawks, Kings and Pacers for a few reasons.

One, Toronto's struggles. The Raptors are not currently a championship team as constructed and would be better off building around younger talents like Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick. Trading Siakam and/or Anunoby would help them stock up on younger players and draft assets to build a contender around the younger core.

Two, the aforementioned Barnes "has been deemed untouchable in any trade conversations," per Charania, so teams trying to capitalize on the Raptors' struggles this season are going to be steered toward Siakam and Anunoby

Three, Siakam is an unrestricted free agent after the season and Anuoby has a $19.9 million player option he's going to decline, so the Raptors may be inclined to trade the pair rather than risk losing them in free agency, like Fred VanVleet this summer.

And four, both Siakam and Anunoby are very, very good and the trio of teams listed above all have solid rosters that would be seriously bolstered by adding either player. The Hawks already "held intense conversations with the Raptors surrounding a Siakam deal over the offseason," according to Charania, while the Kings and Pacers "both checked in and engaged at different points with Toronto over the last year."

The Hawks (9-12) could use an upgrade at forward and another scoring option behind Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. The Pacers (12-8) have an elite young guard in Tyrese Haliburton but don't have a great No. 2 option behind him. And the Kings (12-8) are led by explosive point guard DeAaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis and look ready to make the jump to championship contenders in the West but need another piece to get there.

The two offer a different appeal for teams. Siakam is an excellent scorer who is better cast as a No. 2 or 3 option on an offense rather than his current role as lead scorer in Toronto. And Anunoby is one of the NBA's best 3-and-D wings, a coveted role for championship contenders and one he plays at a high level.

It would be a surprise if both players weren't dealt ahead of February's deadline. The Raptors' current core has maxed out its upside and a soft reset around Barnes is the most logical move going forward.

The Toronto Raptors continue to make Scottie Barnes off limits in any trade negotiations, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Charania reported Monday the Raptors consider the young star to be "untouchable" with teams around the NBA increasingly believing Toronto will move Pascal Siakam or OG Anunoby before the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

The Raptors have continued to resist a full rebuild, but it's something that's increasingly harder to avoid, especially if the front office isn't willing to entertain trade proposals involving Barnes.

Toronto is 9-13 and 11th in the Eastern Conference. While only a half-game separates the Raptors from the Atlanta Hawks for the final play-in tournament berth, pushing for the ninth or 10th seed would only perpetuate what is becoming a cycle of mediocrity.

The Raptors have been swimming upstream ever since Kawhi Leonard left as a free agent in 2019. Without a similarly capable star, they've chased dwindling postseason returns, getting to the conference semifinals in 2020 before missing the playoffs altogether in two of the next three years.

That Siakam and Anunoby are eligible for free agency in the offseason only heightens the sense it's time to start over. Both are very good players, but neither is clearly capable of single-handedly lifting Toronto to a top-four seed.

If team president Masai Ujiri remains determined to contend, then trading Barnes is basically the only move along with retaining Siakam and/or Anunoby. The 22-year-old is averaging 19.8 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals. He's also shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc, up significantly from a 29.0 percent clip across his first two years.

Barnes is a valuable enough asset to where Toronto would probably land a major star in a deal where he's the centerpiece.

Keeping Barnes and building around him makes obvious sense for the Raptors as well, but that requires Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster to wave the white flag.

The New York Knicks "made a play" for Toronto Raptors small forward OG Anunoby last season, according to The Athletic's Fred Katz.

The Raptors "never engaged in serious discussions" to trade the All-Defensive Second Team member, according to Katz.

That could potentially change in 2024. Anunoby is heading into the final guaranteed year of his contract and has not yet accepted his $19.9 million player option for 2024-25.

With Anunoby, Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr. looking at expiring contracts next year, the 9-12 Raptors could potentially end up sellers around the February trade deadline.

If they are, the Knicks could once again become a candidate to trade for Anunoby.

Heading into Friday night's contest against the Charlotte Hornets, Anunoby has averaged 15.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists through 17 starts so far this season.

For the fifth straight season, he is also averaging over one steal per game.

Last season the sixth-year forward averaged 1.9 steals per game to edge out Jimmy Butler for the best average in the NBA.

That career-best average came as Anunoby took on some of the Raptors' most difficult defensive matchups, often defending against star players ranging from Nikola Jokić to DeMar DeRozan.

That workload earned Anunoby attention from more than just the Knicks.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday that Indiana Pacers president Kevin Pritchard has been "really aggressive" about "offering big trade packages for players who could become free agents in the near future," like Anunoby.

ESPN's Tim McMahon reported in September that the Memphis Grizzlies, who reportedly offered the Raptors three first-round picks for Anunoby at the 2023 trade deadline, had "high interest" in him over the offseason as well.

Even if the Raptors decide to put Anunoby on the trade block before the upcoming deadline and his potential free agency, the Knicks may have to compete with the Pacers, Grizzlies and other interested suitors for a shot at a player on track to earn his second career NBA All-Defensive Team nomination this season.

Could Pascal Siakam be on the move this winter?

The Toronto Raptors forward is being monitored by the Atlanta Hawks ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline, per HoopsHype's Michael Scotto, who listed the Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers as other teams who could acquire the veteran this season.

The Hawks attempted to pry Siakam away from the Raptors over the summer and were even willing to give up De'Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin and draft compensation in order to land him, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported in August.

Siakam is slated to become a free agent after the 2023-24 season, and it's unclear what kind of deal Toronto would be willing to offer him with OG Anunoby also expected to become a free agent by declining his player option for 2024-25.

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

The 29-year-old has spent his entire eight-year career in Toronto, and TSN's Josh Lewenberg reported in October that the veteran "would be open to signing an extension" with the Raptors if the team makes him an offer.

Siakam's numbers are down across the board this season, but he has still been an effective player, averaging 19.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 18 games while shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and 20.8 percent from deep.

Atlanta's interest in Siakam was perhaps reignited with the news that Jalen Johnson would be sidelined for two-to-three weeks with a left wrist fracture.

The 21-year-old has started 12 of 15 games for the Hawks this season and is in the midst of a career year, averaging 14.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 59.4 percent from the floor and 42.5 percent from deep.

However, the Hawks have struggled to an 8-9 record and could use another big-time player to pair with Trae Young and Dejounte Murray in an effort to climb in the standings.

Siakam would certainly be an upgrade over Johnson and i the Hawks do acquire the veteran, it would be reasonable to suggest they would have the intention of signing him long-term.

It has been a long time since the Sacramento Kings have found themselves legitimate contenders in the Western Conference two seasons in a row and the organization is poised to take the steps necessary to ensure it stays that way.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that the Kings will be involved in every major player who hits the trade market.

One particular player mentioned, Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors, would provide them with an upgrade at the power forward position.

Second-year player Keegan Murray currently holds down that spot in the lineup but is currently dealing with a back injury that has him listed as day-to-day. He has been serviceable in that role, scoring just over 13 a game and adding 6.2 rebounds and two assists along the way.

That he is 39 percent from the floor is problematic, though.

In comparison, Siakam is averaging 20 points a game, 6.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and is shooting 49.3 from the floor.

What Siakam brings to the table beyond his numbers is experience.

He was with the Toronto team that won the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2019 and has competed in some grueling playoff series. He knows what it takes to win at the highest level in the NBA and can bring that to a very young Kings squad navigating those waters for the first time.

Put him on the floor with budding superstar De'Aaron Fox, fellow veteran Harrison Barnes, and quality big man Domantas Sabonis and you have a recipe for a team that can compete against the likes of the Lakers, Clippers, Timberwolves, Suns, and the defending champion Denver Nuggets.

The Kings are probably still a year out, but the fact that they have Fox and Sabonis as pillars of the team's future makes it a little easier for them to let go of prospects to make a deal for Siakam happen.

It would take time for the team to gel and find on-court chemistry but, if a deal were to go down, executing it early enough would give them time to make that big push to the postseason.

From there, anything can happen, as we saw a season ago when the seventh-seeded Lakers and eighth-seeded Heat both made deep playoff pushes and competed for conference and NBA titles, respectively.