There’s something to be said for going all-in. Sometimes, you’ve just got to go for it. This is a lesson that NBA teams have learned.
We’ve seen good teams make a massive trade to push themselves towards title contention. Sometimes, that comes as a huge risk – you’ll have to give up a lot of assets in order to make that trade.
At the same time, no team wants to flounder. Being a solid, competitive team is fine. Still, if you’re not in title contention, you’ll eventually have to rebuild that team. Take the Sacramento Kings. This is a very good basketball team. Does anyone think that they’ve got a real chance of winning an NBA title?
No. Yet, they could be a piece away. If the Kings could add a third star to their roster, they could find themselves in that position. In all likelihood, that star should be a two-way wing.
How about Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors?
NBA Trade Proposal: Sacramento Kings Land Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors Receive: F Harrison Barnes, F/C Trey Lyles, F Keegan Murray, G/F Chris Duarte, 2026 First-Round Pick (SAC), 2028 First-Round Pick (SAC)
Sacramento Kings Receive: F/C Pascal Siakam
The Raptors once went all-in. For years, they were a solid, competitive team with no real title odds. Eventually, they decided to change that. When the Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard in 2018, they surprised the entire NBA world.
How did that work out for them? Well, the Raptors won an NBA title. On the other hand, Leonard left them immediately after. This was unprecedented.
As a general rule, the best player on a title-winning squad doesn’t leave in free agency. Should the Raptors regret their acquisition?
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings Updates
Absolutely not. The Raptors won an NBA championship. That’s more than plenty of organizations can say. Look at the Kings. They haven’t won an NBA title since 1951.
Would this deal help them finally get over the hump?
Why The Sacramento Kings Do The Deal
We’re not sure. We’ll only say this – it would give them a chance. The Kings are already dangerous, and Siakam could be exactly the piece that they’re missing. If they added him, they’d at least find themselves in the title picture.
This starts with Domantas Sabonis. He’s an extremely talented offensive big man, but in certain situations, he can be exploited. Sabonis is a subpar rim protector whose limited athleticism can have him play off the floor in certain playoff matchups.
Siakam would be an antidote. He could soak up minutes at the five against a team exploiting Sabonis’ lack of lateral quickness.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings Updates
Meanwhile, the pair can co-exist as well. Siakam is also a deft passer who shouldn’t have an issue fitting into Sacramento’s motion-heavy offense. This feels like a perfect fit – even if it’s costing the Kings Keegan Murray and a pair of first-rounders.
Should the Raptors accept that price for Siakam?
Why The Toronto Raptors Do The Deal
For the Raptors, this is also about fit. Siakam and Scottie Barnes are very similar players. There are redundancies between them. Meanwhile, Barnes is clearly the future of this team. With that in mind, it feels inevitable that the Raptors will move Siakam this season.
This would be a good return. Some will be concerned about redundancies between Murray and O.G Anunoby. We don’t share those concerns. They’re both low-usage, 3-and-D wings.
A team can never have enough floor spacing or defense. Anunoby can play the two, with Murray at the three and Barnes at the four. Alternatively, Toronto could have Barnes run point on a full-time basis. Either way, these pieces fit.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings Updates
Finally, Toronto may be angling for more than a pair of firsts in exchange for Siakam. They could get them – but they won’t get a player like Murray along with them. If the Raptors want to rebuild, this is a good return. If nothing else, it allows them to go all-in on Barnes.
