NBA Rumors: Is Pascal Siakam set on testing free agency next summer?

NBA Rumors: Trying to figure out what’s behind the Pascal Siakam trade talks. 

The NBA trade rumors surrounding Pascal Siakam have been running rampant for the past few months. In fact, since the NBA Trade Deadline, you can make the argument that the idea of the Toronto Raptors trading Siakam has become a very real possibility. When it didn’t happen at the deadline, there were many that expected it to happen this offseason. At least thus far, that hasn’t come to fruition.

As the rumors continue to persist, you can’t help but wonder what it could all mean. Not only for the Raptors’ future but also for Siakam’s. The reporting around this storyline has been odd. We know the Raptors are open to trading Siakam, but we don’t really know why. Or at least that’s not something that has been reported.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Siakam has not asked to be traded. I still don’t have much of an idea of what that means. I understand what that sentence means but what does it really mean? The reason why this entire narrative has me in a loop is that we haven’t heard much from Siakam’s camp. Other than the fact that he isn’t interested in signing an extension if he’s traded. There has been some reporting that he’d sign an extension with the Raptors but there hasn’t been substantial progress on that.

There’s one line of thinking that suggests Siakam wants to be in Toronto. That may be the case, but then why have there been no extension talks? Is that because the Raptors don’t want Siakam beyond this season? If that’s the case, why aren’t they pushing harder to trade him?

Maybe Siakam has demanded a trade behind closed doors? But the same rebuttal could be made – why are the Raptors pushing harder for a deal? Unless, of course, they’re following the amazing game plan of Portland Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin?

Is Pascal Siakam set on testing free agency next summer?

What I ultimately return to is this – Siakam probably wants to test free agency next summer. That may be the best theory considering everything that has been reported on this story.

If given a max extension by the Raptors, Siakam would entertain it or sign it. However, if that’s not coming, then Siakam is firmly set on testing free agency.

That’s fair. Siakam has worked his way to this moment. If that’s what he wants to do, he has every right to do so. Then again, why hasn’t that been reported?

This entire story is a confusing one. If I had to guess, Siakam wants the Raptors or free agency. With the way this narrative is trending, he may get one and then the other.