TORONTO — After seven seasons with the Toronto Raptors, Pascal Siakam is over trade deadline speculation.
“At the end of the day, we know what it is. What’s the point of us coming here and talking about every (offensive) — ah, sorry — every deadline?” Siakam laughed and said he caught himself swearing in front of multiple cameras.
“Every deadline, we know (questions) are going to happen. What happens is what happens. I am at that point in my career where it doesn’t really matter.
Siakam may not have followed the latest trade rumors, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist, swirling around the Raptors ahead of Thursday’s deadline. Toronto is 11th in the Eastern Conference standings – just outside the final play-in spot – going into Wednesday night’s game against the lowly San Antonio Spurs.
This puts the team in an ideal position to be a seller, in exchange for draft picks or players getting long term upside.
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Head coach Nick Nurse said, “It’s always a big week for the franchise, I think, draft night, as are the final cuts in training camp.” “I think any time there is a window to improve your team in any way whether it is big or small, I think it is always important for a franchise.”
Siakam, guard Fred VanVleet, and forward Oji Anunobi all have potential trade value for a contender-building team. All three have post-season experience, with Siakam and VanVleet key parts of the Raptors’ championship run in 2019.
Shooting guard Gary Trent Jr., who has a 44.7 percent field goal percentage and 37.3 percent three-point percentage this season, could be targeted by a team looking for help off the bench.
VanVleet and Trent have player options for next season, while Siakam is signed until 2023-24. Anunoby has a player option in 2024–25.
“I think they know where we stand on everything from a coaching staff perspective,” Nurse said when asked whether Toronto’s front office has consulted him on potential deals.
“Obviously, there’s more conversation because things happen that are more real.”
Power forward Scottie Barnes, who was named NBA Rookie of the Year last season, said that, like Siakam, he is not concerned about trade rumors. He didn’t even follow them when he was a fan watching the league.
“I’m not really paying attention to it,” he said. “I don’t really feel anything. As a team, as a group, I don’t really hear anything from it.
Siakam said he’s learned not to worry about the things he can’t control.
“I’m doing my job every single day,” he said on the court at the Raptors’ practice facility. “I am blessed to be able to live my dream and play the sport I love and get compensated for it.
“This is a business and I get it. I’ve seen people go, I’ve seen people do business here, so I’m not surprised. I don’t look for anything unless you know my phone really rings.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 8, 2023.
© 2023 The Canadian Press