Shopping Siakam: 5 potential trades for Raptors star

The Toronto Raptors’ long-awaited retooling is finally in full swing.

OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa, and Malachi Flynn were shipped to the New York Knicks on Saturday in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick, thus commencing the reconstruction of a faulty roster well past its expiration date.

Two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam, who, like Anunoby, is on an expiring deal, appears to be the next franchise cornerstone set for a midseason exit. With that in mind, here are five teams that have either been previously linked with Siakam or are in win-now mode and looking to improve ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline.

Dallas Mavericks

Proposed trade:

The Mavericks are one of the teams heavily associated with Siakam, and they could really use him. The Western Conference contenders don’t have a single frontcourt player averaging more than 10.3 points per game. Though Siakam’s isolation opportunities would surely drop behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, his efficiency would increase as the third option on offense.

The Anunoby trade suggests that rather than load up on draft picks, the Raptors are seeking young prospects who’ve shown signs of NBA success and fit star Scottie Barnes’ timeline. Green is a perfect candidate for that line of thinking. He’s a defensive-minded guard with a capable jumper and experience starting in spurts. He’s fallen out of favor in Jason Kidd’s starting five this season in part due to his lack of offensive aggressiveness but could be reinvigorated in a new role.

Maxence-Prosper hasn’t seen much court time after being selected with the No. 24 pick in last year’s draft, but he has the dimensions of a Masai Ujiri defensive wing and could be a starter-level player if he develops a consistent 3-point shot. Kleber and Holmes are mostly cap filler but can contribute in the short term for a Toronto team with a weak bench.

Sacramento Kings

Proposed trade:

The Kings have also been frequently featured in Siakam trade speculation. Realistically, the difficult decision-making for this hypothetical deal falls on Sacramento. The Kings have once again surprised many, sitting near the top of the vicious Western Conference, and adding a proven star in Siakam would make them one to beat in the playoffs. But Murray is one of the rare players who both possesses immense potential and is already a contributor on a great NBA team as just a second-year player.

If Sacramento eventually determines that losing Murray is worth the value of Siakam, the next issue is matching salary. Either a starter in Harrison Barnes or a sharpshooter in Huerter would also need to be sent off to match money, barring a third team entering the deal. Huerter’s shooting struggles make him a more likely candidate, but it would still be an added wrinkle in what would already be a difficult decision for the Kings. It’s worth noting the deal could only go through after Jan. 15 due to a stipulation in Lyles’ contract.

Atlanta Hawks

Proposed trade:

The Hawks have long been linked with Siakam, with both teams reportedly holding conversations during Summer League. Atlanta felt strongly about its offer, purportedly content on parting with starting wing De’Andre Hunter, young forward A.J. Griffin, and an undisclosed amount of draft compensation. That wasn’t enough to entice Toronto, but this could do it.

Third-year forward Johnson would likely be the Raptors’ top ask. The Duke product has catapulted himself into the Hawks’ starting lineup this season amid a stellar breakout campaign. Swapping Johnson for Siakam would be a win-win for both sides; the Hawks need an established frontcourt name to complement their locked-in backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray, and the Raptors continue to retool their roster around Barnes, staying competitive while simultaneously getting younger. Losing Capela would be a tough pill for Atlanta to swallow, but they have a natural successor in Onyeka Okongwu to step into the starting lineup for good.

Indiana Pacers

Proposed trade:

Indiana’s high-octane offense, headlined by the sensational Tyrese Haliburton, has garnered plenty of attention, but Rick Carlisle’s squad is still a mess at the other end. Their defense has been the third worst in the league all season, coughing up 120.2 points per 100 possessions, and only the Washington Wizards have allowed opponents to score more points per game. Acquiring Siakam not only brings in a significant defender to shore up their deficiencies, but it also gives the Pacers another versatile scorer – and one who can create his own offense when necessary.

If Indiana does come knocking, it’s likely the Raptors will seek Mathurin, last year’s second-leading rookie scorer. After seemingly hitting the proverbial sophomore wall early on this year, Mathurin found his stroke in December, shooting 47/40.7/89.3 over his last 15 games to average 15.3 points. However, Toronto could also try to capitalize on a poor rookie showing thus far from Walker and argue for the former Houston forward’s inclusion in any deal (especially if the Pacers aren’t eager to include draft picks). Despite being projected as a stellar defender before the 2023 draft, Walker hasn’t been able to carve out a consistent role within Indiana’s rotation, but he could be a perfect fit for Toronto’s development model.

Golden State Warriors

Proposed trade:

There has been no serious reporting about the Warriors pursuing Siakam, and yet a potential deal makes too much sense to ignore. Golden State is running extremely low on time to make one more push at a championship with its dynastic core intact. Siakam’s offensive game would take tons of pressure off Stephen Curry, and his defensive versatility would unlock a handful of new lineups for Steve Kerr. The price is steep here, but if any franchise knows the value of a championship, it’s the Warriors.

Wiggins would have been the prize of this trade a couple years ago, but he’s nothing more than salary filler amid a career-worst season. Toronto would likely consider moving him again in a separate deal or waiving him with three years and nearly $85 million left on his contract. The real gem here is Kuminga, a player the Raptors could have drafted over Barnes in 2021. The Congolese forward has shown signs of brilliant potential in Golden State but has been given a short leash on a contending team.

Moody also possesses upside as a 3-and-D wing, but he just hasn’t hit enough long balls to earn significant playing time. Toronto native Joseph is the exact type of mentor off the bench who could serve the Raptors well should Temple get shipped off. Throw in some picks, and both teams could be happy with this unexpected trade.