The NBA trade market looks to be heating up and the Toronto Raptors are in the middle of it. After completing one trade already this season, the Raptors could be on the verge of making another one.
Right before the New Year, Toronto sent OG Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to the New York Knicks in exchange for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and a second-round pick via the Detriot Pistons. It was a signal of change occurring North of the Border, where the Raptors had previously been hesitant to part with core players.
They waited too long to move on from Kyle Lowry, having to work out a sign-and-trade deal with the Miami Heat. They received nothing in return for Fred VanVleet, who signed with the Houston Rockets as a free agent in 2023.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls Updates
Looking to not repeat those mistakes, the Raptors cashed in on Anunoby as well as they could. Acquiring two solid building blocks in Quickley and Barrett who have levels to reach which were capped by how they were used in New York was a nice get.
However, they are not done. According to reports, All-Star and All-NBA performer Pascal Siakam is close to being on the move as well. Several different teams have been linked to Siakam, but a Western Conference executive believes he could end up with a team no one is talking about.
“Either way, it’s clear the Raptors are willing to move Siakam at the right price. As one Western Conference executive told Hoops Wire, “It very well could be to a team that no one knows. Like the Bulls.”
That would certainly be a shocking turn of events. The Chicago Bulls have long been rumored to be a team looking to shake things up, but as sellers, not buyers. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, Patrick Williams and Coby White have all been brought up in NBA rumors as pieces the Bulls could look to move in a much-needed roster shake-up.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls Updates
A team such as the Bulls sacrificing assets for a player in Siakam, who is on an expiring contract, would be very risky. If there are no assurances he will sign a long-term deal, acquiring while barely holding onto a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament makes very little sense.
Based on what the Raptors received in return for Anunoby, the cost to land Siakam won’t be cheap. It would probably cost the Bulls at least Williams, White and draft compensation on top of whatever salary matching needs to be done.
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