Pascal Siakam Doesn't View Kings as Trade Fit; Mavs, Others Linked
DALLAS — Pascal Siakam remains at the forefront of the NBA trade market before the midseason deadline. The Toronto Raptors already moved O.G. Anunoby to the New York Knicks, facing an expectation to part with Siakam soon, too.
One of the teams that quickly emerged with trade interest in Siakam was the Sacramento Kings, which were even described as a team to watch before trade discussions broke down hours later. The Kings were unwilling to include Keegan Murray in a deal, but that's far from the only obstacle for Sacramento.
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According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, Siakam is seeking to sign a max contract for his next deal and doesn't view the Kings as a favorable long-term option if the Raptors were to trade him. He is in the final season of a four-year, $136.9 million contract, averaging 22.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 37 games.
"It remains possible that the Raptors and Siakam will agree on an extension, especially if the trade market is underwhelming enough that Toronto’s president, Masai Ujiri, decides to hold onto him past the deadline," Amick reported. "But either way, Siakam is seeking a full-term, max-salary deal no matter where he ultimately lands. And while Siakam has not asked for a trade, the sources say he doesn’t view the Kings as a good long-term fit if the Raptors choose to move him."
Amick reported the Pacers are considered the "leaders in this pack" by some rival executions, with the cap space to sign him to a max deal this summer. Along with the Pacers, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports included the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons among the teams continuing to be linked as possible suitors for Siakam.
Any trade suitor that makes a midseason move to acquire Siakam would need to have confidence in his desire to re-sign in the offseason to justify parting with the necessary assets to complete a trade. However, Amick reported that "no promises" will be made to any suitor, making it a calculated risk.
The Mavs faced a similar situation when they traded for Kyrie Irving, understanding that having his Bird rights — the ability to exceed the salary cap to re-sign him — would be a pivotal factor in getting a new contract done after the final year of his deal expired last season before making him a free agent.
