The Toronto Raptors could lastly be able to make an enormous change to their group. Finally 12 months’s commerce deadline, they listened to gives on all their finest gamers however finally didn’t transfer any of them. Issues backfired for them once they missed the playoffs and misplaced Fred VanVleet to the Houston Rockets in free company.

The lack of VanVleet fractured an already middling offense they usually could not be capable to discover a appropriate alternative earlier than the season begins. Whereas the additions of Dennis Schroeder and Jalen McDaniels recommend that they’re nonetheless attempting to be aggressive, media stories consider in any other case.

In accordance with SportNet’s Michael Grange, Pascal Siakam’s identify has been talked about in commerce rumors and the Atlanta Hawks have been pursuing him. Marc Stein echoes comparable sentiments and stories that the Indiana Pacers are a reliable suitor to amass him.

Buying and selling Siakam might sign a shift towards a rebuild or retool contemplating the two-time All-NBA ahead is their finest participant. He reportedly needs to stay in Toronto and doesn’t wish to focus on an extension with different groups, which might damage his commerce worth. This season will likely be Siakam’s final with supermax eligibility, which means he can qualify for it if he earns All-NBA honors this season.

If the Raptors do determine to commerce Siakam, listed below are some groups that make sense and what they might provide.

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The Hawks have been the group most linked to Siakam and reportedly have been in commerce discussions with the Raptors for him. They’ve a large gap on the 4 after buying and selling John Collins, and Siakam can be a big improve on each ends for them. They will provide younger gamers Onyeka Okongwu and Kobe Bufkin, a first-round choose in 2029 or 2030, and the Kings’ 2024 first-round choose.

The problem for the Hawks in buying and selling for Siakam is their lack of matching salaries. Dejounte Murray can’t be traded having simply prolonged for 4 years, $111 million, and Bogdan Bogdanovic nonetheless has a commerce restriction from his latest extension that expires on September 16. They may’ve expanded the Collins commerce to make use of his outgoing wage to amass Siakam, however that may’t occur since they formally traded him to the Jazz.

Groups over the cap and beneath the primary apron just like the Hawks should ship again $30.1 million in outgoing salaries to match for Siakam. Their most evident candidate to be concerned is DeAndre Hunter and his $20.1 million wage. They’d nonetheless must ship again one other $10 million, so a mix of Okongwu ($8.1 million) and considered one of AJ Griffin ($3.7 million) or Jalen Johnson ($2.9 million) will get them there.

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The Pacers seem able to make a playoff push after two consecutive years within the lottery. Their greatest wants are at ahead they usually already addressed it by signing Bruce Brown, buying and selling for Obi Toppin, and drafting Jarace Walker. Buying Siakam would spherical out their lineup and may very well be what places them again within the playoff combine.

Indiana at present has $7.5 million in remaining cap house, so that they would wish to ship out the distinction in salaries ($30.4 million). Buddy Hield ($19.3 million) is their most sensible contract to make up the majority of the wage matching. They may embody a mix of Daniel Theis ($9.1 million) and T.J. McConnell ($8.7 million) to assist get nearer.

Some younger gamers they might provide embody a mix of Bennedict Mathurin ($6.9 million), Aaron Nesmith ($5.6 million), Isaiah Jackson ($2.7 million), Andrew Nembhard ($2.1 million), and Toppin ($6.8 million) who will be aggregated because the Pacers acquired him with cap house. In addition they have loads of first-round picks to supply since they nonetheless have all their very own over the following seven drafts.

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Knicks have been accumulating belongings for a number of years now and are able to money of their chips on the correct All-Star. They will commerce as much as 4 of their very own first-round picks, and 4 owed to them by different groups. In addition they have a number of proficient younger gamers like RJ Barrett ($23.9 million), Immanuel Quickley ($4.2 million), and Quentin Grimes ($2.4 million) that might curiosity the Raptors.

The obvious logical commerce candidate for the Knicks in a possible Siakam commerce is Julius Randle ($28.2 million) who would make up nearly all of the wage matching. Siakam can be a big improve for the Knicks on the 4, particularly defensively within the playoffs.

The Knicks are simply $4 million beneath the posh tax, so that they’ll wish to ship out equal salaries in a commerce to remain below. The identical applies to the Raptors who’re simply $3.3 million beneath the tax. A framework together with Randle, Evan Fournier ($18.9 million), and draft picks for Siakam and Chris Boucher ($11.8 million) might make sense.

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The Clippers are one other group that is concerned about Siakam. They’ve been linked to James Harden, who has requested a commerce from the Philadelphia 76ers after selecting up his $35.6 million participant possibility. If they can’t purchase him, they might attempt to make a run at Siakam.

The Clippers have greater than sufficient gamers on their group to make up matching salaries with a mix of Norman Powell ($18 million), Marcus Morris ($17.1 million), Nicolas Batum ($11.7 million), and Robert Covington ($11.7 million). As a result of they’re over the second tax apron, they would wish to ship again $34.4 million to match for Siakam.

They will provide as much as two of their very own first-round picks in 2028 and 2030 and choose swaps in 2027 and 2029. They may additionally provide younger gamers in Terrance Mann ($10.6 million), Ivica Zubac ($10.9 million), Kobe Brown ($2.4 million), and Bones Hyland ($2.3 million). It isn’t one of the best package deal by any means, however it may very well be adequate if nobody is providing something higher.