Playing in Tampa Bay this season, the Toronto Raptors are off to a disastrous 1-5 start. It has led to NBA rumors suggesting that Toronto front office head Masai Ujiri might need to pull off a blockbuster trade to salvage the season.
Obviously, James Harden has come up around the Association after he demanded a trade from the Houston Rockets ahead of the 2020-21 season.
Could a James Harden trade potentially be in the cards for these Raptors? According to new NBA rumors, that depends heavily on whether Toronto is willing to trade its only star player.
Rockets could demand Pascal Siakam in James Harden trade with the Raptors
““I’m sure it would have to be Siakam. I’m not sure, let me step back, but I would guess that the Rockets would want Malachi Flynn and then you’re looking at multiple first-round draft picks into the future. Probably lightly protected or unprotected,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported recently.
Whether the 26-year-old Siakam would be of interest to the Rockets as the centerpiece coming back in a James Harden trade remains to be seen. While he’s a great all-around talent, the forward is in the midst of a brutal start to the season. He’s averaging 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists on a mere 41% shooting from the field.
NBA rumors relating to a James Harden trade have died down some with the Miami Heat bowing out of the sweepstakes and a trade to the Brooklyn Nets looking increasingly unlikely.
The Philadelphia 76ers have pushed back against reports that they are willing to offer up Ben Simmons in a James Harden trade. That’s now magnified after their red-hot start to the season under first-year head coach Doc Rivers. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers are apparently unwilling to deal C.J. McCollum in a Harden trade and the Denver Nuggets are not willing to part with young forward Michael Porter Jr.
The backdrop here is Harden being in a rift with his organization and flat out violating the NBA COVID-19 protocols multiple times over the past month or so. That could potentially leave Toronto as a legit destination for Harden.
How would a James Harden trade to the Raptors look?
Needless to say, it starts with Siakam heading to Texas. From there, a hypothetical Harden blockbuster to the north could look something like this.
- Raptors get: James Harden
- Rockets get: Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Malachi Flynn and three future unprotected first-round picks
The question here becomes whether Toronto would take this risk. Harden has two more years remaining on his contract. Toronto is not seen as a major North American hub, as evidenced by Kawhi Leonard’s departure in free agency following the 2018-19 season.
The team is also 1-5 this season and could very well be picking in the lottery next June during what promises to be a loaded 2021 NBA Draft.
NBA rumors are going to continue surrounding a James Harden trade until the in-season deadline passes in March. For now, this specific Raptors rumor is the talk of the Association’s watercooler. Whether that leads to a blockbuster deal for the three-time reigning scoring champion remains to be seen.
More must-reads: