NBA Insider Shares Latest Trade Chatter Involving Raptors' OG Anunoby & Pascal Siakam
The Sacramento Kings’ interest in OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam may be a bit overstated.
It’s widely been reported that the Kings have been interested in the two Toronto Raptors forwards dating back to last season’s trade deadline. That interest, however, may be dwindling with both Anunoby and Siakam heading toward free agency this summer, per The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
“The massive cost of retaining them in the offseason would have a significant impact on what the Kings were willing to offer to acquire them in the first place,” Amick wrote.
Anunoby, in particular, does not appear to be of “significant interest” to the Kings, according to Amick.
This has always been the risk in not extending Siakam who has been eligible for a four-year, $192 million deal dating back to this summer. Toronto opted to play out the start of the season to see how Siakam would fit in Toronto’s new system under head coach Darko Rajaković. While the Raptors could still offer Siakam an extension at any point this season, Toronto would be unable to trade their All-Star forward for six months following the new deal, making him ineligible to be traded at the trade deadline.
Anunoby’s situation is a little more complicated as his maximum extension offer this year is less than what he’d be able to get in free agency. There’s therefore no reason for him to agree to a long-term deal with Toronto or any other organization until the offseason.
Toronto went through a similar situation last year with Fred VanVleet who was reluctant to sign an extension with the Raptors. Trade interest for VanVleet at the trade deadline was minimal as he was on an expiring contract. He eventually signed with the Houston Rockets into their cap space.
