NBA Trade Rumors: Raptors' Siakam, Anunoby Eyed by Hawks, Kings, Pacers for Deadline
The Toronto Raptors are struggling early in the 2023-14 season, off to a 9-13 start. And that has teams inquiring about players like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby ahead of February's NBA trade deadline.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, "Teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers are expected suitors for Siakam or Anunoby but believe Siakam appears to be the likelier player to be dealt."
The 29-year-old Siakam (20.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.0 APG) and 26-year-old Anunoby (14.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.1 SPG, 38.8 percent from three) have attracted the attention of teams like the Hawks, Kings and Pacers for a few reasons.
One, Toronto's struggles. The Raptors are not currently a championship team as constructed and would be better off building around younger talents like Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick. Trading Siakam and/or Anunoby would help them stock up on younger players and draft assets to build a contender around the younger core.
Two, the aforementioned Barnes "has been deemed untouchable in any trade conversations," per Charania, so teams trying to capitalize on the Raptors' struggles this season are going to be steered toward Siakam and Anunoby
Three, Siakam is an unrestricted free agent after the season and Anuoby has a $19.9 million player option he's going to decline, so the Raptors may be inclined to trade the pair rather than risk losing them in free agency, like Fred VanVleet this summer.
And four, both Siakam and Anunoby are very, very good and the trio of teams listed above all have solid rosters that would be seriously bolstered by adding either player. The Hawks already "held intense conversations with the Raptors surrounding a Siakam deal over the offseason," according to Charania, while the Kings and Pacers "both checked in and engaged at different points with Toronto over the last year."
The Hawks (9-12) could use an upgrade at forward and another scoring option behind Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. The Pacers (12-8) have an elite young guard in Tyrese Haliburton but don't have a great No. 2 option behind him. And the Kings (12-8) are led by explosive point guard DeAaron Fox and big man Domantas Sabonis and look ready to make the jump to championship contenders in the West but need another piece to get there.
The two offer a different appeal for teams. Siakam is an excellent scorer who is better cast as a No. 2 or 3 option on an offense rather than his current role as lead scorer in Toronto. And Anunoby is one of the NBA's best 3-and-D wings, a coveted role for championship contenders and one he plays at a high level.
It would be a surprise if both players weren't dealt ahead of February's deadline. The Raptors' current core has maxed out its upside and a soft reset around Barnes is the most logical move going forward.
