Pascal Siakam Could Join The Los Angeles Lakers In A Dangerous But Lucrative Trade
Pascal Siakam acquisition would be the ultimate win-now move for the Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ season has started shakily; following a tight loss to the Miami Heat, they are now 3-4. This is hardly the best start for a club that wants to win a championship. Anthony Davis is committed to playing despite his ailments, so the Lakers must find a way to survive in the fiercely competitive Western Conference. Maybe what the Lakers need is to get a good-value, borderline All-NBA player. The Lakers’ four feasible trade targets have already been covered, but for the purposes of this discussion, we want to concentrate on one particular trade possibility.
The Toronto Raptors have reportedly rejected numerous trade proposals from various bidders by placing an unreasonable price tag on Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, keeping the two together for years. All of the Raptors’ key players have contracts that are about to expire, so they risk losing them for nothing. Anunoby still has potential to be a DPOY-caliber forward, but Siakam’s playing days are running out.
The Raptors could trade Siakam to the Lakers in exchange for a potent package of assets that will benefit both clubs, rather than losing him for nothing or at a steep discount in a few seasons.
Trade Specifics
D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, and the 2027 Lottery-Protected First-Round Pick are awarded to the Toronto Raptors.
Received by the Los Angeles Lakers: Pascal Siakam
If both sides have reasonable expectations for what they will receive and send, then this trade might be beneficial to both of them. In the end, it would upend the NBA, restore the Lakers’ threat, and provide the Raptors with the resources they require to begin rebuilding their team.
The Raptors Say Goodbye To A Legendary Club
Without a question, Pascal Siakam is a Toronto Raptors legend. He joined the team in 2016, and his contribution to their 2020 championship run was crucial. He has also earned two All-NBA and two All-Star teams while playing for the squad. By contrast, during his tenure with the team, DeMar DeRozan was only a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-NBA selection.
D’Angelo Russell has established himself as a reliable NBA combo guard, averaging 17.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists this year. He would strengthen his connection with Dennis Schroder and be a wonderful addition to the Raptors, who lack depth at the guard position. He is also very flexible for Toronto because of his short-term, team-friendly contract.
Considering that Rui Hachimura is only 24 years old, he might be a long-term member of the Raptors front line. Despite his impressive moments with the Lakers, he has had a difficult season thus far due to ailments. In addition to being a valuable player today, he has long-term potential and can carry on the Raptors’ frontline strategy of playing rangy wings.
The Lakers Earn a Third Star
Over the past five seasons, Pascal Siakam has demonstrated that he is a very skilled player who can lead an offence or fit into a certain system. He had his greatest season to date, averaging 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 71 games played. Siakam would be the perfect addition for the Lakers rather than concentrating on acquiring a standout guard, especially considering the unpredictability of their frontcourt and the injury concerns surrounding Anthony Davis.
It’s time for the Lakers to go back to using LeBron James as point guard, as they did during their 2020 championship campaign. Although James can usually fit in wherever, the Lakers under Darvin Ham have stopped using him as a guard. James is always the Lakers’ best playmaker, despite his attempts to take on extra duties off the court.
Siakam and AD together in a frontcourt may be unbeatable if AD is healthy, particularly if LeBron is running the point. Siakam provides the Lakers with a reliable No. 1 option that can help the club get through challenging moments in the season and contribute some important and reliable scoring in AD or LeBron’s absence. Siakam would take Hachimura’s spot along the front line, but the Lakers could use free agency to acquire a low-cost scoring guard like Jaylen Nowell and rotate between James, Gabe Vincent, and Nowell depending on the requirements of the team.
Is Taking This Risk Worth It?
It’s a dangerous arrangement for both parties. The player the Lakers are trading for is unquestionably not worth the value of the two rotation players they have shown to mesh well with LeBron and Davis. It’s difficult to give up depth after it was essential to their success the previous season, but the Lakers won’t be able to compete in the Western Conference if they don’t add another star to their roster. A agreement like this in January 2024 would be beneficial rather than waiting for Kyrie Irving to make a proposal in February.
A legend such as Siakam would not be relinquished by the Raptors for minimal money. However, aside from the Hawks, who were unable to close a deal, the market wasn’t particularly interested in him. Instead of splitting up in free agency, this agreement enables them to move on, particularly in light of Masai Ujiri’s alleged jabs at Siakam and Anunoby on their expensive contracts and requests for an extension.
With his impressive start to the current season, LeBron James has demonstrated that he is good for at least one more season, but his durability is not assured. Given that they signed Anthony Davis to a long-term contract, the Lakers need to find a long-term replacement for him if they hope to compete next season. In the event that James decides to go and play with Bronny, the Lakers will hold Bird rights on a star if they sign Siakam this season.