The 2020-21 NBA season wasn’t exactly kind to the Toronto Raptors. After losing some key pieces last offseason and being forced to spend the entire season on the road, the Raptors finished the campaign with a disappointing 27-45 record. The silver lining is that they did wind up with the 4th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the Raptors could shake up their roster over the summer. That means a lot of players’ futures with the team are up in the air, including Pascal Siakam.
Siakam had a decent showing for the Raptors this season. He finished the campaign with 21.4 PPG/7.2 RPG/4.5 APG while shooting .455/.297/.827. However, Siakam is set to make more than $105 million over the next three seasons and some people are wondering if he’s worth that price after failing to play like a true No. 1 option. That’s led to the idea that the Raptors could trade him this offseason for a better fit.
As it stands, Bovada is favoring a scenario where Siakam stays with the Raptors at -190 odds. The fact is that he does have a big contract that other teams might not be willing to take on. At the same time, who would the Raptors replace him with if they want to compete next year? Free agency will be scarce of big names this time around and a lateral position-for-position trade might not be that enticing. It’s clear that Pascal Siakam loves the city of Toronto and would want to win there again.
With that being said, it’s not a guarantee that Siakam will stay with the Raptors. Here’s a list of other possible trade destinations.
Where Will Pascal Siakam Play Next Season?
Odds via Bovada as of Wednesday, July 7
- Toronto Raptors (-190)
- Dallas Mavericks (+200)
- Golden State Warriors (+350)
- Charlotte Hornets (+950)
- Portland Trail Blazers (+2000)
- Detroit Pistons (+2000)
Could the Mavericks Call the Raptors?
At +200, the Dallas Mavericks have the second-best odds to have Siakam in their lineup next season. The Mavericks had a disappointing end to their season after blowing a 2-0 series lead to the Los Angeles Clippers. The loss sparked the idea that big man Kristaps Porzingis could be traded this offseason. Porzingis reportedly doesn’t enjoy how ball-dominant Luka Doncic is, which means he might prefer playing for the Raptors.
With that being said, a trade surrounding Siakam and Porzingis could be possible. On one hand, Siakam wouldn’t have the pressure of being the No. 1 option anymore and could play as relaxed as he was when Kawhi Leonard was in Toronto. On the other hand, Porzingis would have a bigger role with the Raptors, who could use a highly talented PF/C who can shoot the ball. Siakam and Porzingis’ contracts practically match up, which makes a deal even more plausible.
Warriors Rumored to Be Interested in Siakam
A couple of weeks ago, it was rumored that the Golden State Warriors (+350) were interested in acquiring Siakam over the offseason. While nothing was ever confirmed, the rumored deal was said to be Siakam to the Warriors for the No. 7 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, former 2020 first-rounder James Wiseman and, possibly, Andrew Wiggins. Whether or not the Raptors find this theoretical trade enticing is another question.
First of all, it depends on how valuable the Raptors find the 7th overall pick. If they have no intentions of contending next season, that pick looks pretty good. It also depends on what Toronto thinks of Wiseman. While the potential is certainly there, there’s no guarantee that he’ll grow into a No. 1 center. Wiggins would have to be included in the deal to make the salaries match, so it depends if the Raptors think it’s worth it to pay him $65 million over the last two years of his deal. Again, if Toronto is rebuilding, that contract isn’t an issue.
The deal would also benefit Siakam because he wouldn’t even have to be the No. 1 or 2 option with the Warriors as long as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are both in the lineup. If Golden State thinks Siakam is the missing piece to help the team return to the playoffs, there’s no reason why they wouldn’t offer this deal.
