The Atlanta Hawks were unwilling to include Kobe Bufkin in trade talks for Toronto Raptors star Pascal Siakam, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The Hawks were considered the team with the most trade interest in Siakam over the summer.
“The Hawks were unwilling to part with rookie guard Kobe Bufkin in trade talks for Siakam, league sources told HoopsHype,” Scotto wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “Coach Quin Snyder is said to be high on the former Michigan guard, who averaged 19.3 points on 51.9 percent shooting overall and 45 percent from beyond the arc with 5.6 rebounds in his final eight games as a Wolverine.”
Several NBA teams have shown interest in pursuing Siakam via trade over the past three months, but the external market has been tempered a bit due to the fact that it’s been made clear Siakam would not extend with a team that trades for him. Siakam can sign for 30 percent of the salary cap either now via extension or next offseason as a free agent with the Raptors or any other franchise.
The Raptors are eligible to sign Siakam to a maximum contract extension of four years and at least $192 million. Thus far, there have been no substantive conversations surrounding an extension. And for Siakam’s part, the NBA star has never requested to be traded.
Siakam averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists last season for the Raptors while shooting 48.0% from the field, 32.4% from beyond the arc and 77.4% from the free-throw line. He’s one of the top forwards in the NBA.
The Hawks and Indiana Pacers have been the two NBA teams most prominently connected to Siakam in trade talks. Siakam has career NBA averages of 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He won the 2019 NBA championship and the 2018-19 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
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