Pascal Siakam is still open to signing a contract extension with the Toronto Raptors despite Masai Ujiri’s selfish comments from media day, according to NBA insider Josh Lewenberg of TSN. Siakam can sign for 30 percent of the salary cap either now via extension or next offseason as a free agent with the Raptors or any other franchise. Thus far, Toronto and Siakam haven’t talked about an extension,
“We do believe in Pascal,” Ujiri said during Raptors media day. “We believe that a lot of our players didn’t play the right way last year and we want to see them play the right way. I said that we were selfish and I’m not running away from that. We were selfish and we did not play the right way. So let us see it when we play the right way.”
The Raptors are eligible to sign Siakam to a maximum contract extension of four years and at least $192 million. Siakam has thus far not requested a trade, sources told NBA Analysis Network.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Masai Ujiri, Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors Updates
Siakam averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists last 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. He’s one of the top forwards in the NBA.
The Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers have been the two teams most prominently connected to Siakam in trade talks. Siakam has career averages of 17.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He won the 2019 championship and the 2018-19 Most Improved Player of the Year Award.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Masai Ujiri, Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors Updates
The Raptors are seemingly taking a wait-and-see approach to get a sense of how the existing pieces – Siakam primary among them – fit within whatever offensive system new head coach Darko Rajakovic chooses to employ. Toronto was very interested in acquiring Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers, but the Blazers traded the superstar to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors didn’t offer the Blazers Siakam, OG Anunoby or Scottie Barnes for Lillard.
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