The surprise trade candidate: Pascal Siakam
If the Toronto Raptors really wanted to make a big splash at the NBA Trade Deadline and throw a wrench on their entire build, Pascal Siakam is likely the player that will be moved. All that said, unless there’s a team that is going to make a historic offer, I would be surprised if this is a move that gets done in the next few weeks.
Despite Toronto’s struggles this season, Siakam is still averaging 26 points, eight rebounds, and six assists on 48 percent shooting from the field and 34 percent shooting from 3-point range. He’s currently the team’s best player and if they were to trade Siakam, we’re talking about something close to a complete rebuild for the Raptors.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that Siakam will be 29 years old at the end of this season. If the Raptors wanted to pivot away from winning now and focus on starting a build around Scottie Barnes, this is likely a move that would have to take place.
That said, I’m not sure the Raptors are there yet. And if they were to move Siakam, a trade during the offseason would make more sense compared to a rushed deal in-season at the deadline.