Eric Koreen of The Athletic writes how the Raptors locking up Pascal Siakam to a long-term extension may be a byproduct of how the Spurs ended up losing Kawhi Leonard, the player that helped the Raptors win the franchise’s first ever championship last season.
Like Leonard when he was in San Antonio, Siakam was destined for a maximum contract after the Raptors won last season’s title. Like San Antonio had then, Toronto has plenty of cap space this upcoming summer.
Unlike the Spurs, the Raptors didn’t wait to lock up Siakam. As Koreen writes, they want him around and they want him happy. The long-term benefits outweigh the short term repercussion of less cap space.
There’s more this afternoon from Toronto:
- Per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, forward OG Anunoby, in a rare podium session, says that he lost 15 pounds following the rupture of his appendix just as last season’s magical postseason run got underway.
- Michael Grange of Rogers Sportsnet provides some more details on the incentives in the rookie-scale contract extension signed by Siakam, writing that the 25-year-old forward will receive a starting salary worth up to 30% of the cap (not the typical 25%) if he earns First or Second Team All-NBA or is named the MVP this season. That would make Siakam’s four-year extension worth as much as a projected $155.9MM instead of $129.9MM.
- Head coach Nick Nurse still appears to be rather displeased with some of his newly-signed bench players, reports William Lou of Yahoo Sports Canada. Nurse lauded Stanley Johnson for his defense and effort and Matt Thomas for his offense, but seemed less than enthusiastic about the other side of the ball for both players.
Good move by Masai to lock up Pasacal now. He is abosolutely a max player, despite what many arm chair GMs seem to think. He is young, nasty, a champion, and only getting better.
Time well tell I suppose. I’ve considered him to be a Robin a lot more than a Batman but being the 2nd best player on a team should get you paid anyway. Hopefully he keeps getting better
Could they have locked him up for 5 years as like a designated player? Should have demanded that extra year if they could.
Pretty intense to get 20% more money for hitting All NBA second with one opportunity, just this season. Be a top ten player for a particular year and get what like $25m-$30m extra guaranteed. He will be balling out for sure this year.
‘A champion’ is a stretch. Without Kawhi and Drake he would be nothing. You got your 5 mins Toronto, that’s it. You won’t win another championship in the next 5 years because of this extension.
Banners hang forever and rings are getting distributed so despite you thinking it’s a “stretch” he’s a champion period. Regardless of your point of views that’s something you can’t take away
Trade Lowry and Vanvleet for Wiggins and Teague make it happen
That would be a very good trade for Toronto, for Minny… not so much, right?