Pascal Siakam Trade Rumors: Warriors, Mavs Have ‘Exploratory Interest’ in Raptors PF

The Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks “have expressed exploratory interest” Toronto Raptors’ star Pascal Siakam, according to Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

However, The Athletic reported that the Raptors have “actively engaged in trade talks” with the Indiana Pacers for Siakam in “a package that includes Bruce Brown Jr., other salaries and three first-round draft picks.”

Per Charania and Amick, the Sacramento Kings had also “been among other suitors for Siakam, but decided to pull out of conversations in recent weeks,” while talks between the Raptors and Pacers “have gained steam in recent days.”

Siakam, 29, is one of the top names on the trade market heading into the Feb. 8 deadline, alongside Chicago Bulls’ star Zach LaVine and Atlanta Hawks’ guard Dejounte Murray, among others.

Because Siakam is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer—and because the Raptors are rebuilding their roster around a young core of Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett—Toronto has made him available, and plenty of contenders would benefit from adding his 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

The Warriors are scuffling at just 18-22 on the season, and the aging core of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green may not have many postseason runs left in the tank. Acquiring Siakam and his $37.8 million contract would likely require sending Chris Paul ($30.8 million), Jonathan Kuminga ($6 million) and likely draft capital the opposite way but could help revitalize a sinking ship.

It’s not a home-run deal for the Warriors—they would risk trading an up-and-coming, 3-and-D wing in Kuminga for a player who might only be a short-term rental. And it would likely send Andrew Wiggins to the bench unless another deal followed, which could create some bruised egos along the way.

As for Dallas, adding another scoring threat behind Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving would make sense, though whether the 24-17 Mavericks would have the sort of deal Toronto is looking is harder to say.

Perhaps a mix of veteran contracts and promising young players like Dereck Lively II, Jaden Hardy and/or Josh Green would be enough to get a deal done. At the moment, however, it appears as though the Pacers are going to win the Siakam sweepstakes.