Predicting nine budding young stars the Toronto Raptors should be targeting in Pascal Siakam trade talks.
Over the last 24 hours, there's a much stronger sense that suggests the Toronto Raptors are going to trade Pascal Siakam at the NBA Trade Deadline. According to a recent report, the Raptors are not looking for deals centered around draft capital. Instead, the Raptors are reportedly valuing young players with star potential in Siakam-centric trade talks.
As we inch closer and closer to the trade deadline and the talks surrounding a Siakam trade seemingly get more and more serious, we explore nine promising young players the Raptors should target in trade talks (with teams that have reported interest).
Honorable mention: Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings
It was a wild couple of hours when it was initially reported that the Sacramento Kings had emerged as a serious threat to land Pascal Siakam to when it was reported that they had pulled out of trade talks. Clearly, as soon as got real, something changed. I'd have to imagine those changes likely revolved around Keegan Murray.
Knowing how Toronto Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri operates, it would have been surprising if he didn't ask for Murray in any deal for Siakam. My sense is that when Ujiri asked for Murray, the Kings decided to pull out of trade discussions. Either way, Murray is the type of young star the Raptors are likely looking for in any deal for Siakam.
Jonathan Kuminga, Golden State Warriors
If the whispers surrounding the possibility that the Golden State Warriors could emerge as dark horse contenders in the Pascal Siakam sweepstakes, there are two young players the Toronto Raptors should seek out in trade talks. The first is Jonathan Kuminga. He's shown flashes of potential throughout his first few years in Golden State but hasn't been given a consistent enough opportunity to prove his worth.
If there's a trade to be had between the Raptors and Warriors, Kuminga is certainly to be involved.
Brandin Podziemski, Golden State Warriors
At the same time, Brandin Podziemski is another player that the Raptors should be targeting in trade talks with the Warriors. The 6-foot-4 rookie out of Santa Clara is averaging nine points, five rebounds, and three assists on 47 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent shooting from 3-point range for the Warriors.
Podziemski carries some star potential that the Raptors should be looking for in any deal for Siakam. I'm not sure if these two players are enough to get Toronto to accept a deal, but these are the two most promising young players the Warriors have to offer.
Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are interested in making a splash move for Pascal Siakam. If that does end up being the case, there are two young players the Toronto Raptors should target in trade talks. The first is Jalen Duren. In his sophomore season, Duren has taken a step forward in his development. He's averaging 13 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists per game on 65 percent shooting from the floor.
He's still just beginning to scratch the surface of the player that he can be and has a ton of potential that should, at the very least, intrigue the Raptors in trade talks.
Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
Secondarily, Ausar Thompson is another player that should pique the Raptors' interest in trade talks. Thompson has been pretty inconsistent this season, after a strong start, but has flashed promise that points to the fact that, in the right situation, he could develop into a star player. In his rookie season, Thompson is averaging nine points, seven rebounds, and two assists on 45 percent shooting from the field.
Thompson is far from a finished product and still very much a raw prospect, but he could be the right high-ceiling player that the Raptors may be looking for.
Jarace Walker, Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are still in search of their long-term answer at the power forward position and Pascal Siakam has suddenly become a viable option. If the Pacers are willing to make the move for Siakam, it's likely going to cost them greatly. One young player that the Toronto Raptors will likely target on the Pacers' roster is Jarace Walker. As a top 10 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Walker hasn't gotten the run that some believed he would right off the bat.
However, he's still an intriguing prospect that the retooling Raptors could look to build a Siakam return around. But Walker isn't the only other young player that will likely be of interest to the Raptors.
Bennedict Mathurin, Indiana Pacers
As a prolific scoring wing, Bennedict Mathurin should be on Toronto's radar as they search for more young players to retool around Scottie Barnes. Production-wise, Mathurin has taken a bit of a step back this season. However, from an efficiency standpoint, Mathurin has been improved this season.
In his sophomore season, Mathurin is averaging 14 points and four rebounds on 47 percent shooting from the field and 38 percent from 3-point range. The question is, what is Indiana willing to give up for Siakam?
Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
It's been reported that Jalen Johnson is one of the "untouchable" players on the Atlanta Hawks roster, but that doesn't mean the Toronto Raptors shouldn't be asking for him in any potential trade talks for Pascal Siakam. After all, Siakam is an All-Star player with All-NBA potential at the peak of his career.
It would be a disservice if the Raptors didn't demand Johnson in any deal for Siakam. After that, it's the Hawks' decision to either oblige or hold steady with their decision to make Johnson a hand-off player in trade discussions.
Onyeka Okongwu, Atlanta Hawks
If not Johnson, I'd make the argument that the Raptors should be willing to take a flier on Onyeka Okongwu. The versatile forward hasn't exactly developed as the Hawks hoped he would at this point in his career. Nevertheless, at just 23 years old, he's still very much a player who has plenty of promise moving forward.
Perhaps a change of scenery is exactly what he needs to get his career back on track. And on a Raptors team that is going to be loaded with young talent, it's easy to see why he could make sense for Toronto.