While fellow Raptors forwards Scottie Barnes and OG Anunoby seem to have adjusted quickly to new head coach Darko Rajakovic‘s offensive system, Pascal Siakam has taken longer to get going this fall. That’s why Siakam’s 31-point, 12-rebound showing in a road victory over Dallas on Wednesday was such an encouraging sign, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
Prior to Wednesday’s win, Siakam had averaged just 15.4 PPG and 6.1 RPG on 41.2% shooting in Toronto’s first seven games, well below his averages in recent years. Rajakovic, who spoke before Wednesday’s game about his belief in Siakam, predicted that a breakout was coming.
“It’s the start of the year, it’s a different style of play, he’s going through adjustments, but at the same time he is really trying to do the right thing. He’s trying to move the ball, he’s trying to find his teammates and that kind of took away a little bit from his aggressiveness,” the first-year coach said, per Grange. “The last two days I’ve talked to him like, ‘You better be aggressive first.’ Aggressive to score, aggressive to attack the rim, to shoot the ball. … I think very soon, hopefully tonight, he’s going to take off.”
It’s a big year for both the Raptors and Siakam, who will be an unrestricted free agent next July if he doesn’t sign an extension before then. With Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. among the team’s other key players eligible for 2024 free agency, Toronto will have to use this season to determine which pieces are long-term keepers.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Barnes’ strong start to the season seemed “inseparable” from Siakam’s struggles, according to Danny Chau of The Ringer, who says that figuring out whether those two forwards can coexist and thrive alongside one another is atop Toronto’s 2023/24 to-do list.
- In a pair of articles for The Athletic, Eric Koreen takes a closer look at the Raptors’ developmental plan for lottery pick Gradey Dick and considers which of the club’s early-season trends should be taken most seriously. Koreen notes that Toronto ranks in the bottom third of the league in both defensive rebounding and free throw attempts, and suggests those trends may be difficult to reverse.
- When he decided to play in the G League this season, Justise Winslow viewed the Raptors’ organization as a good fit for his skill set, given the team’s fondness for lengthy, versatile forwards, writes Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca. One of the Raptors 905’s affiliate players, Winslow is still rehabbing an ankle injury from last season and won’t be available when the team’s season gets underway on Friday, though he’s doing contact drills and is enthusiastic about nearing the end of the rehab process. “I’m doing really well, man,” Winslow said. “Attacking this rehab process every day, you know, doing things that help me mentally stay in a good place and, you know, find peace and stay patient within the journey. So, it’s been a really good process.”
Trade Siakam but they can build around Barnes and OG as the 1-2 punch.
Idk that they want to pay OG 40M a year. Same w Siakam.
Trading both seems like their best option.
Knicks, Sixers, Heat, really any team eith 2 or 3 FRPs available for trade. Would be interesting if the Thunder got involved for OG.
You keep OG unless you get an offer you can’t refuse. Siakam, doesn’t fit LT, it’s inevitable he goes either at the deadline or as a FA.
Yeah, I’d have to agree with your take on Siakam. He doesn’t fit their current timeline, nor with the current roster. If they can trade him for a scorer/shooter, that will make this team even more dangerous and possibly open up that offence more, while sacrificing little on defence.
Consistent scoring threat or a true PG. Barnes is a quality decision maker but I don’t think he can be the PG. In the best situation he maybe in that Jokic like style.
OKC would be nice, but really depends on the role he wants. They have SGA as a 1, Chet should become #2 or 1B, Jalen shows a lot of skill too. OG at best is their 3rd option. Dort would need to be in the deal because they provide the same skill sets.
40mill a year he should be in an all around player role. I could see Pelicans as another option.
If the Raps are not willing to pay $40M for OG, why do you think another team would? They are one of the most valuable franchises in the NBA.
Lots of media overreaction when teams haven’t even played 10 games yet.
Yes and with the new coach some of these guys have to do things totally different than they did the last 4 years.
While writing that, the thought comes up of perhaps “buyer beware” if Pascal Siakum is traded at the deadline? Can he adjust to a new system?
Do the Raptors have any interest in OG for Randle, Fournier and several picks?
Nah, I doubt they actually trade OG. I think it would have to be a highly touted recent pick like Sharpe or Murray or something dumb like 3 unprotected picks. I think they’ll pay him, 5/$200M.
TOR is more or less wedded to keeping Siakam and OG until the deadline.
At that point, if they do decide to move either, then for it to be more than a Ujiri town hall, their asking price will have to come down substantially. Particularly since at this point both are rentals, with BRs off set by max contract demands. Siakam’s suitors will be limited in any event, always have been. OG seems to have an unlimited number of suitors but not at TOR’s asking price.
The Raptors might just be happy to slowly build to where they were before the Kawhi trade and just be competitive… I don’t get the sense of title or bust in their immediate future…
So no need to rush any trades just for the sake of making the team a little bit better… Siakim and OG will have plenty of value for the next major star to want out…
But both guys are FA at seasons end, so if you’re not competing for a title and don’t plan on resigning one of them, you should move them for the most assets.
Your goal is to get to finals. OKC has lots of picks and have a good team needing a vet to lead. Philly has the money for OG and a chance at at title with him. We shall see what happens,