One NBA writer is proposing that Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers acquire Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors this summer.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report proposed that the Blazers send Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson, and the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft to the Raptors for Siakam. The goal would be to give Lillard a needed co-star, while Toronto would be positioned to rebuild.
“This is about as big as the Blazers can go, at least without losing Shaedon Sharpe,” Buckley wrote. “Pascal Siakam isn’t quite a Tier-1 superstar, but he’s a top-30 talent (at least) who’s been the second-best player on a championship team before. He just averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists in what maybe wasn’t even his best season to date. He was one of five players with a 24/7/5 stat line; Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmmpo and LeBron James were the others.
“Get Siakam to Portland, and he could settle in as the second option to Lillard. Both would benefit from having the other to help shoulder the load, and they could even work two-man magic together. If the Blazers can also bring back Jerami Grant, that’s an interesting trio with a lot of scoring, athleticism and talent. It isn’t a guaranteed contender, but it’s good enough for Lillard to think he has a chance.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Siakam averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season for the Raptors while shooting 48.0% from the field, 32.4% from beyond the arc and 77.4% from the free-throw line. The two-time All-Star signed a four-year, $136.9 million rookie contract extension with Toronto in October 2019.
The Raptors could enter rebuild mode this summer after firing head coach Nick Nurse. Toronto lost the 9-10 play-in game to the Chicago Bulls and didn’t make the playoffs this year.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Siakam will make $37.9 million next season. He will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024. Pairing him with Lillard could help the Blazers make the playoffs next season in the rugged Western Conference.
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