How Pascal Siakam's Trade Market Impacts Mavs' Ability to Make Midseason Upgrade
DALLAS — The focus of the NBA trade market remains on the Toronto Raptors, as Pascal Siakam has yet to be moved. There has yet to be a clear-cut top suitor emerge after the Sacramento Kings appeared to be the team to do so on Friday, but hours after initial reporting, they backed out of talks.
The Kings' trade pursuit of Siakam quickly devolved for a few reasons: 1) An unwillingness to include Keegan Muray in a trade package. 2) A reluctance to pay Siakam a max on his next contract with already paying De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
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There are various important factors to weigh when determining the right trade destination for Siakam. Given he is playing in the final year of his contract, teams have to decide whether or not they are willing to part with valuable pieces for a potential rental due to the natural risk of free agency departure.
Other teams have been reluctant to include premier young players in a trade package for Siakam, whether Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors or the Atlanta Hawks being unwilling to part with Jalen Johnson. Toronto finds itself in a situation where teams haven't put the best offers on the table.
Again, with Siakam playing on an expiring contract, teams with cap space, like the Indiana Pacers or Detroit Pistons, could wait until free agency to make a pursuit. Both of those teams are considered interested suitors. One element to consider is that Siakam will surely need to want to end up where he's traded due to the natural control he has on his future with his contract status. There will need to be motivation to finish the season with the team
The Dallas Mavericks were reported as among teams who would "likely" pursue Siakam, but their outlook to get a deal done is limited. Regardless, what happens with Siakam will naturally impact their trade options, irrespective of whether they can get in the mix. Dallas would like to upgrade at the four spots, but depending on where Siakam ends up, there could be competition for other veteran options. What results from Siakam's trade market will be essential to monitor.
The Raptors prefer to add young, difference-making talent to continue building around Scottie Barnes instead of favoring draft assets, much like they did when taking on R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley when moving O.G. Anunoby to the Knicks. The Mavs' trade outlook gets complicated quickly. Dereck Lively II would be counterintuitive to include in a trade, making Josh Green (subject to poison pill provision), Jaden Hardy, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper the top young options to include. However, Dallas has been unwilling to part with Green and kept Hardy out of trade talks for a veteran center in the summer.
The main asset the Mavs have at their disposal in a midseason trade remains its 2027 first-round selection since they do not have another available to move outright until the offseason. The question becomes: Would it make sense to wait until the summer to make a substantial move when up to three first-round picks are eligible to be packaged if this year's lottery-protected pick is conveyed to the New York Knicks? There are many factors to weigh as the trade deadline approaches.
