Toronto Raptors Reject Trade Offer for Pascal Siakam

Posted on: August 9, 2023, 09:25h. 

Last updated on: August 9, 2023, 10:40h.

Pauly McGuire Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

The Atlanta Hawks failed to acquire All-Star power forward Pascal Siakam in a potential trade with the Toronto Raptors.

Pascal Siakim
Forward Pascal Siakam (43) from the Toronto Raptors is defended by guard Dejounte Murray (5) from the Atlanta Hawks at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Image: Getty)

The Hawks will have to sweeten their trade offer if they expect to land Siakam before the preseason begins. This also provides an opportunity for the Indiana Pacers to swoop in with a better trade offer.

In his seventh season with the Raptors, Siakim averaged a career-high 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. He shot 48% from the floor and 32.4% from 3-point range. He missed some time with an abductor strain at the start of the season, but bounced back to start 71 games.

Multiple teams were interested in an energetic two-way All-Star like Siakim. But most of them backed off when Siakam said he didn’t intend to sign an extension with the team that trades for him. Siakam wants to explore free agency when his contract ends at the end of the 2023-24 season.

Even after vocalizing his intentions, the Hawks and Pacers still emerged as favorites to add Siakam in a trade.

Home-Grown North of the Border

New Mexico State isn’t exactly a college basketball powerhouse. But fans in Las Cruces are proud that Siakam represents the Aggies in the NBA. The Raptors selected Siakam with a late first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

After an uneventful first two seasons in the league, Siakam found his groove in year three, when he earned a promotion to the starting five by then-rookie head coach Nick Nurse.

Since he became a starter, Siakam made two appearances in the NBA All-Star Game, was named the 2019 Most Improved Player, and won a championship with the Raptors during the 2018-19 season.

Siakam, in the final year of his contract, is eligible for a max contract extension worth $192 million over four years. Shams Charania from The Athletic reported that the Raptors haven’t engaged in any “substantive conversations” regarding an extension. All signs point toward a trade.

The Raptors were unable to retain guard Fred VanVleet, who bounced in free agency this off-season when he signed a three-year deal worth $130 million with the Houston Rockets. The Raptors had opportunities to trade VanVleet last summer, and prior to last season’s trade deadline. But they kept him on the roster.

By not dealing VanVleet before his contract expired, the Raptors missed a chance to add players or secure draft capital at the trade deadline. The Raptors want to avoid repeating that same mistake with Siakam, which is why they’re open to trading him.

Hawks Offer De’Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin, Plus Picks

The Hawks offered the Raptors starting small forward De’Andre Hunter and backup forward A.J. Griffin, plus multiple draft picks in a potential trade for Siakam. The Raptors rejected the Hawks’ initial offer.

Hunter was the fourth-overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Virginia. He appeared in 67 games as a starter with the Hawks last season, averaging a career-high 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 35% from 3-point land.

The Raptors selected Duke’s Griffin with the #16 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Griffin started 12 games during his rookie season, and finished his first year in the league averaging 8.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. He connected on 39% of his 3-point attempts.

After the Raptors rejected the Hawks’ trade offer, the Hawks might need to persuade a third party like the Dallas Mavericks to make the Siakam trade become a reality.

Futures Market for the Hawks and Raptors

The Hawks are +7500 odds to win the 2023-24 NBA championship and +2500 odds to win the Eastern Conference during Quin Snyder’s first full season as the head coach of the team.

In Southeast Division futures, the Hawks are +215 odds to win the division as the second favorite behind the Miami Heat at -185 odds.

The Hawks have a projected win total of 42.5 over/under next season, according to DraftKings. They finished 41-41 last season and secured the #7 seed through the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament. The Boston Celtics picked off the Hawks in the first round.

The Raptors are a long shot to win the NBA championship at +10000 odds under new head coach Darko Rajakovic. Nurse led the Raptors to a championship in the 2018-19 season, but they parted ways after five seasons.

The Raptors are +5500 odds to secure the Eastern Conference title, and they’re a long shot at +3500 odds to win the Atlantic Division.

The Raptors are projected to have a losing season next season with a win total of 36.5 o/u.