As we get closer to the NBA trade deadline, the player to pay attention to is Pascal Siakam. Siakam has been in trade rumors all season long. The Toronto Raptors already made a trade this season. So, it won’t be surprising to see another one soon.
Siakam is also a free agent in the summer. the Raptors could trade him now to get assets to build around Scottie Barnes. It’s better than losing him for nothing. So that’s why I decided to list three teams to trade for Siakam.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are nearly at the end of their championship run. But they are looking to extend their window for the remainder of the season and beyond. The Warriors can do that by trading for Siakam. This trade extends their championship window. Golden State could be title contenders at the end of Stephen Curry’s career.
The trade that benefits both sides is Golden State getting Siakam and Garrett Temple for Andrew Wiggins, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, a 2026 first-round lottery-protected pick and a 2028 first-round lottery-protected pick.
This trade shows that the Raptors are building around Barnes by getting two young players in Kuminga and Moody. Kuminga of the young players has more upside but Moody can show potential since he could get more minutes in Toronto.
Wiggins hasn’t played great this season. he’s currently averaging 11.9 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game, and 1.5 assists per game. Going home to Toronto could rejuvenate him to play better like it did with RJ Barrett.
Before the trade, Barrett averaged 18.2 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 42.3 per cent in field goals and 33.1 per cent in threes. Since the trade, he’s averaging 19.9 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 56 per cent in field goals and 44.1 per cent in threes.
If Barrett can play well for his home team, perhaps the same thing could happen to Wiggins. Playing at home can give him the confidence and motivation to play well once again.
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings should be looking to build their momentum from last season. They finished third in the Western Conference with a record of 48-34. The Kings should maximize their championship window as soon as possible. The last time the Kings were in the playoffs before last season was the 2005-06 season. It took Sacramento 18 years to get back to the playoffs.
It might take 18 years to get another opportunity to compete for the NBA championship. So might well do everything you can to compete when you have the chance right now. And getting Siakam helps that goal. Adding him to a team that already has two other all-stars like De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis makes the Kings championship contenders in the west.
Both teams did speak to each other about a potential Siakam trade but the deal fell through. But they can discuss a Siakam trade again closer to the trade deadline. the original trade was Harrison Barnes and draft assets for Siakam but will not be enough. So I came up with a trade that should be beneficial for both sides.
The potential trade is Siakam, Temple, and Dennis Schroder to the Kings for Barnes, Kevin Huerter, Davion Mitchell, Chris Duarte a 2024 second-round pick, a 2026 second-round pick, a 2026 lottery-protected first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick swap, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
Durate and Mitchell will now get the opportunity to shine since they will get more minutes. Barnes and Huerter are good scorers which means they will improve the bench scoring on this team. The Raptors also get draft assets for future needs.
Besides Siakam, Sacramento gets Schroder. Schroder will be great coming off the bench for the Kings. He can be your backup point guard whenever Fox needs rest. He can also play with Fox. Schroder can take the pressure away from Fox.
Indiana Pacers
Siakam’s potential next team is most likely the Indiana Pacers. Even if the Pacers do not trade for him at the trade deadline, they can still get him by waiting until the summer and signing him in free agency. Indiana has enough cap space to sign Siakam to a max deal.
But a benefit of trading for Siakam is that have the rest of the season to convince him that Indiana is the long-term home for his career. Plus, Siakam gets to play alongside Tyrese Haliburton who having a great year. Siakam and Haliburton can lead the Pacers in the playoffs.
The potential trade both teams could make is Siakam, Temple, and Jalen McDaniels to the Pacers for Buddy Hield, Jarace Walker, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard a 2024 first-round pick, a 2026 top ten protected first-round pick a 2028 first-round pick swap and a 2030 first-round pick swap.
Toronto gets three young players who fit around Barnes while also getting a veteran scorer in Hield. Hield will be helpful for the rest of the season. But I don’t see him as a long-term fit. His contract expires in the summer. I believe that the Raptors will want to use the cap space to sign their younger guys than for Hield.
Once Toronto trades Siakam, they need a power forward on the team. Walker and Toppin can fill the void that will be left behind by Siakam. Toronto also gets Nembhard in the deal. They could use a guard on this team.
Out of the three teams, The Pacers are the team who will most likely get Siakam because of the assets they have. The Pacers also have the cap space to re-sign Siakam to a max contract. Indiana has the advantage right now. They don’t even have to give up all of their assets because they can sign him in the summer. So it’s pretty much in Indiana’s court.
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