We're just hours away from the 2023 NBA Draft in New York. Already a flurry of draft-related moves have been made, but more are sure to come. In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks are eager to trade for the Toronto Raptor's Pascal Siakam.
The Cameroonian power forward was a first-round draft pick for the Raptors in 2016 and has blossomed into one of the franchise's most beloved players. A key piece in their 2019 championship, he is a fan-favorite and productive starter in Toronto. This past season, Siakam averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game.
However, the Raptors only managed a .500 record before losing to the Bulls in the Play-In Tournament. This led to the firing of five-year head coach Nick Nurse. While the Raptors made a promising hire in Darko Rajaković, the roster is in flux. Fred VanVleet could leave, and Atlanta is stepping up its pursuit of Siakam.
Toronto's Demands For Siakam Stall Trade Talks
Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, talks between Atlanta and Toronto have stalled due to the Raptor's high floor for a Siakam trade. “Atlanta has also maintained a pursuit of Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, according to league sources. The Hawks’ have attempted several creative packages to land the All-NBA talent from Toronto, including at least one three-team scenario. Opposing front offices still believe the Raptors’ high valuation of their players, such as Siakam and OG Anunoby, marks the biggest roadblock to any potential trade of either Raptor.”
The language used indicates that the Raptors are likely looking for multiple first-round picks in exchange for Siakam. This is likely too rich a price for many suitors. Despite this, the Raptors are reportedly open to trading him. It's just a matter of receiving an offer that meets their expectations.
These beliefs have likely been further amplified by recent trade activity. The Raptors will surely want to avoid the fate of the Washington Wizards, who failed to get any guaranteed first-round picks when trading Bradley Beal. Additionally, the Boston Celtics essentially managed to acquire two first-round picks in exchange for Marcus Smart.
While Siakam Might Move, Paul George Likely Won't
While Siakam may yet change teams, one NBA veteran who likely won't is Paul George. The LA Clippers received some interest, namely from the Blazers, Rockets, and Knicks, for George's services. However, it now appears that George will be staying in LA for the time being.
The Clippers reportedly turned down an offer that included the third-overall pick from the Blazers. Meanwhile, LA also broke off talks with the Knicks before things progressed too far. While the team was clearly open to trading George, it appears that the interest in the veteran is not where the Clippers would want it to be.
This means that in all likelihood, George will return to anchor the Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard for at least one more season. Both players have a player option year for the 2024-25 season. However, that could all change if a genuinely enticing offer was made for George's services.
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