Shams Charania of The Athletic reported last week that the Raptors and All-Star forward Pascal Siakam have yet to seriously engage in negotiations on a possible contract extension.
Should Toronto offer him a max extension, which would start at 30% of the 2024/25 salary cap? Eric Koreen of The Athletic weighs the pros and cons of a new deal for Siakam, who is entering the final year of his contract.
While he believes Siakam is worthy of a max deal and that extending him makes more sense than losing him for nothing, Koreen wonders if a lengthy extension would leave the Raptors stuck in the middle again in the short term. However, if Siakam continues to play well, an extension could boost his trade value down the line, since he would be on a long-term contract instead of an expiring deal, Koreen adds.
Here’s more from the Atlantic:
- Jay King and Josh Robbins of The Athletic examine how Kristaps Porzingis will fit with the Celtics. Robbins points out that the Wizards had a good deal of success with a two-big lineup featuring Porzingis and Daniel Gafford, which could be beneficial for Boston’s frontcourt, since Al Horford and Robert Williams are more well-rounded players than Gafford is. Having Porzingis as another weapon alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown could make the Celtics’ second-ranked offense even more potent in ’23/24, according to King. Both writers state that the biggest question mark surrounding the acquisition is Porzingis’ health — in case you missed it, the Latvian big man recently revealed he’s dealing with plantar fasciitis, though the Celtics expect him to be ready for training camp.
- Nets second-rounder Jalen Wilson was a star in college last season for Kansas, but he knows he won’t have the ball in his hands very often entering his rookie season, he tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (subscriber link). “College for sure, was different,” said Wilson. “I had the ball in my hands a lot. I had to do a lot of things for my team. Take a lot of tough shots. Now, I think as I showed in Summer League and moving forward in the NBA, I won’t have to take those tough shots at the buzzer. I won’t have to take contested shots over double teams. This isn’t Kansas. This is the Brooklyn Nets. So I feel like the load being less, my numbers (efficiency) will increase. And I feel like I showed that in Summer League. And I’m excited to continue to show it.” The young forward, who is on a two-way deal, was named to the All-Summer League Second Team last month, Bondy notes.
- Fred Katz of The Athletic covers a number of Knicks-related topics in his latest mailbag, including where they might finish in the East during the regular season, their most likely trade candidates, and the team’s power forward depth. As far as trade candidates go, Katz believes Evan Fournier, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are the top three options. Fournier is an obvious one since he doesn’t want to return after being benched most of last season, and his expiring deal could be useful for salary-matching purposes. Barrett is mostly included for financial reasons, particularly if the Knicks want to trade for a star. League sources tell The Athletic that Quickley’s name has popped up in trade discussions this summer, though the Knicks have placed a high value on the Sixth Man of the Year runner-up. Quickley is eligible for a rookie scale extension, Katz notes, but there doesn’t appear to be any rush to get a deal done.
Woooww well who knew ????
You can use Fournier expiring contract. To match salaries in a bigger trade. …….
Quickley, Fournier, Mitch, Sims, Grimes. All go before RJ. I’m certainly grateful Knicks are taking their time. Looking for that next move. But I can see moves that are out there. Rudy in the middle, can work.
I still like DeM DeR at SG.
Time. …..
I like Siakam. He is definitely a difference maker. But him saying Raptors is where he wants to be. Tells me he’d rather stay. I’m not trading for that. Raptors asking price is also high. Siakam probably gets move before OG.
I think you need to face reality. While Morey may have gotten himself into a pickle with Harden. He still managed to get a 20ppg-10ast guy for Benjalina Simmons.
Leon Rose, is not a good FO guy for two main reasons. He isn’t on the same page with his HC, and he’s too scared to deal low value 1st round picks for a star caliber player. DeRozan is 34, can they trade for him and extend him and squeeze 2 more years out of him? Maybe.
Brunson was a very good signing. They drafted some decent bench players too. I dont think this combo of Rose and Thibs is what gets the Knicks over the hump, a deep playoff run. I think you’re stuck in purgatory just like the Sixers, as much as you’d hate to admit it. Semi reminds me of the Celtics hesitation to trade those mid to late 1sts and take marginal talents over trading for known quantities.
Like is it worth keeping those picks just to take the next Kevin Knox?
How do you feel about Gobert for Fournier, Mitchell, Quickley, and one of the many 2024 1st you guys have?
While Gobert is probably the best defender in the NBA right now, is he worth Mitch AND IQ? And the Knicks reportedly do not want to attach draft pick compensation to trade the expiring contract of Fournier. So you have to factor that into the equation also.
Knicks have a solid young core. Good lineup. Good bench. Good coach. They just need one trade. I would play Barrett at SG. Trade Fournier and three 1st rd picks for a all star SF in his mid twenties.
Could you list a few options for the all star SF in his 20s that a team is looking to move for picks?
Siakem maybe
Sounds like Jalen Wilson wants the ball in the clutch. Should of drafted him LeBron
If Siakam really wants to stay he will sign an extension but if he refuses you know he is playing games.
Did Katz say who the NYK’s targets are? It’s the targets that matter, not who they might trade to get them. The first will determine the second.
Based on the team’s timeline, the bar for a trade is high, as it should be. The core players are all early prime or pre-prime. No core player has demanded a trade, or who’s contract is an issue in the next few years. The locker room is a strength. Right now, the team is ascending. When and if that changes, then there might some urgency to make a trade for sake of shaking things up. Right now, a trade would have to upgrade the team consistent with its timeline. If there’s anything out there like that, it’s hiding.
They can wait. See how the season goes. If they want they can give him 5 years and everyone else can give him 4. They could also trade him. They could wait for an opportunity to improve their roster via trade too. They have expiring deals that can he dealt to facilitate trades.