TORONTO – In talking to people around the NBA, it’s clear that the OG Anunoby deal will have a direct impact on Pascal Siakam’s future in Toronto. What’s less certain, at least for now but likely not for long, is how last weekend’s blockbuster deal with New York affects the team’s leading scorer and all-star forward.
The overwhelming consensus from pundits and several plugged-in league sources is that Siakam will be the next to go, as Raptors team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster continue to retool around Scottie Barnes and, now, the recently acquired Immanuel Quickley.
And he very well could be. That they just got younger, pairing an ascending 24-year-old guard (and 23-year-old Canadian RJ Barrett) with the 22-year-old Barnes, doesn’t seem to bode well for Siakam, who will turn 30 before the end of the season.
But, as one source close to the situation cautioned this week, “don’t be so sure.” It’s complicated and it’s fluid, but with about a month to go before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, many are expecting some closure, whether that comes in the form of a trade or a new long-term contract.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they offered an extension,” another source said.
In other words, there’s a wide range of potential outcomes, and nobody can be sure of how it will all shake out because, true to form, the Raptors are said to be keeping their options open and holding them very close to their chests.
After more than 12 months of speculation, they finally moved one of their coveted veteran players last Saturday. That it was Anunoby, not Siakam, caught most of the league off guard, as did the timing (six weeks before the deadline) and the trade partner (a team that is suing them).
The deal – which sent Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the Knicks in exchange for Quickley, Barrett and a 2024 second-round pick, via Detroit – officially signalled a shift in philosophy for a franchise that is now fully committed to building around Barnes, who is in the midst of a breakout third season.
The belief is that they are listening to offers for Siakam, and will continue to listen ahead of the deadline, but at least to this point, none of those talks have gained much traction. “Nothing is close,” said a source, which is why the possibility of an extension is very much in play.
If the Raptors can’t find an offer that meets their asking price, which has been and remains steep, they’re not going to trade Siakam just to trade him, nor should they. But they also can’t risk losing another key piece – and the last remaining player from their championship core – for nothing in free agency this summer.
Siakam, who’s set to hit unrestricted free agency in July, can sign an extension worth up to roughly $200 million over four years until the end of June. The Raptors have yet to offer it or even open contract negotiations, and it’s unclear how those talks would go when or if they do. Historically, Ujiri’s front office has prioritized term over annual salary in deals with their veteran players, and if it comes to it, a three-year offer at just under Siakam’s max wouldn’t be surprising. But would something like that be enough to appease Siakam and his camp, who are assuredly looking to get the most out of a contract that will take the two-time All-NBA forward through his prime years?
As a pending free agent, Siakam holds considerable leverage in what happens over the next month. Now that January is upon us, he is no longer eligible to sign a long-term extension with a team that acquires him mid-season. Before pulling the trigger on a trade, any interested team will be reaching out to Siakam’s representatives looking for some assurance that he’s willing to re-sign with them over the summer. Without those assurances, it’s hard to see any of them giving up that kind of assets the Raptors would need to justify making the move. Meaning that Siakam and his camp can essentially block a trade to a specific destination, or any destination, if they choose. Think of it as a no-trade clause without actually having a no-trade clause.
