Analyst Says Hawks Should Seek a Trade for Pascal Siakam

Welcome to NBA trade rumor season.

There have been more and more trade whispers coming out this week and it has been involving the usual candidates. Zach LaVine, Pascal Siakam, and John Collins. Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer also mentioned this week that there were potential suitors for Lauri Markkanen should be become available (it sounds like that is unlikely). The Hawks were mentioned as an interested team for Markkanen.

However according to Bleacher Report's Jake Rill, the Hawks should make sure to try and pull off a trade for Siakam. In a recent article, Rill says that if the cost is not too high for the Hawks, they should explore a deal for Siakam:

"Siakam could be a great fit in a Hawks lineup that features the talented backcourt of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. Siakam would then give the team a much stronger presence in the post.

However, Toronto may be looking for a solid return in a trade, even though Siakam is in a contract year. Grange noted the Raptors "aren't known for selling low," so that could impact potential negotiations with trade partners. As long as the cost isn't too high, Atlanta should make a strong push to land Siakam. And if it can ensure he'll sign a long-term extension as well, then it would make sense for the Hawks to part with some draft capital to pull off a trade."

There have been non-stop rumors connecting the Hawks to Siakam since the summer. When he mentioned the Hawks as a suitor for Markkanen, Jake Fischer also had a tidbit about the Hawks and Siakam:

Since the offseason, the Hawks have been the suitor most connected to Siakam, and Atlanta personnel witnessed a perfect glimpse of what the 29-year-old forward is capable of Wednesday night, when Siakam posted 33 points, seven boards and seven assists in a win over the visitors. The Hawks held serious discussions with the Raptors on acquiring Siakam this past summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Atlanta also pursued trade scenarios for swingman De’Andre Hunter that included talks with the Pacers and Pistons around June’s NBA Draft. The Hawks stand as one of the more intriguing franchises to monitor as the trade deadline approaches, with plenty of optionality to choose different paths forward under a new leadership structure with general manager Landry Fields and head coach Quin Snyder in their first full season in Atlanta, which is still 9-14 in the Eastern Conference.

These next couple of months are going to be something to monitor for the Hawks. If they continue to lose, this team might look very different in February.

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