Report: Hawks Unwilling to Move Kobe Bufkin in Pascal Siakam Trade Talks
It appears as though Kobe Bufkin was the sticking point for the Atlanta Hawks in trade talks involving Pascal Siakam this summer.
The Hawks were reportedly unwilling to move the 19-year-old in trade discussions with the Toronto Raptors, according to HoopsHype. Bufkin, selected No. 15 in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Michigan, was among the players the Raptors are said to have considered with the 13th pick, before ultimately selecting Gradey Dick.
It's unclear how far trade talks progressed over the summer. At one point, Dejounte Murray was said to be dangled as trade compensation for Toronto in a Siakam deal. Murray eventually signed an extension with Atlanta that made him ineligible to be traded during the offseason.
Talks involving De’Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin, and future draft pick compensation “never materialized,” per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Siakam, 29, remains under contract with Toronto through this season and is eligible to sign a contract extension with the club. Reporting from various outlets suggests those talks had not progressed as of earlier in the summer. Siakam, therefore, remains eligible to be traded until he signs the extension, should one materialize.
The 6-foot-9 forward is eligible for a max contract extension worth $192 million over four years. He’d be eligible for a supermax contract should he earn an All-NBA nod this season.
Further Reading
Report: Damian Lillard Unwilling to Report to Camp if Traded to 'Team like Toronto'
