Raptors All-Star continues to draw trade interest

Raptors forward Pascal Siakam continues to draw trade interest around the NBA, multiple sources tell Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Grange specifically mentions the Hawks as a team that remains in pursuit of the 29-year-old.

A couple days before free agency opened, Grange also identified the Hornets, Mavericks, Rockets, Pelicans and Kings as teams that had inquired on Siakam, though he cautioned that while Toronto was open to listening to offers, conversations hadn’t gotten very far.

An All-Star for the second time in 2022-23, Siakam averaged career highs in points (24.2) and assists (5.8) while chipping in 7.8 rebounds per game in 71 games last season. His 37.4 minutes per contest led the NBA for the second straight season.

A two-time All-NBA member, Siakam is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him $37.9M. He’s eligible to sign a four-year, $192M extension, though he’d also be eligible for a super-max extension if he isn’t traded and makes another All-NBA team next season.

Siakam previously put word out that he preferred to remain with the Raptors and likely wouldn’t re-sign with another team. A follow-up report stated that he hoped to spend his entire career with Toronto, the only NBA club he’s ever known after being selected 27th overall in the 2016 draft.

The loss of Fred VanVleet in free agency makes the Raptors less formidable, and Eric Koreen of The Athletic believes they should seriously consider dealing Siakam in order to re-balance the roster around Scottie Barnes, the 2021-22 Rookie of the Year.

Koreen would be less inclined to move OG Anunoby, but he points out that his deal is also expiring and the five-year, $160M contract Jerami Grant agreed to with Portland will likely be Anunoby’s floor in a new deal. It’s also possible he gets a maximum-salary deal as a free agent next year like VanVleet unexpectedly did from Houston. If the Raptors aren’t willing to pay Anunoby that much, they should consider dealing him as well, Koreen opines.