Raptors

Report: Raptors front office essentially ghosted Pascal Siakam last summer

Published by
Peter Dewey

The Toronto Raptors front office and Masai Ujiri reportedly cut off almost all communication with star forward Pascal Siakam this past summer.

Siakam, who is in the final season of his contract, could be a player that is traded by this season’s trade deadline if Toronto truly wants to rebuild its roster. The team already traded away forward O.G. Anunoby to the New York Knicks this season.

“But after their disappointing 2022-23 season ended with an embarrassing play-in loss to Chicago, Ujiri and Toronto’s front office cut off almost all communication with Siakam last summer, leading the seven-year vet to wonder whether he was being punished, according to a source close to the player,” TSN’s Josh Lewenberg wrote. “The lack of contact was especially strange, with Siakam entering the final year of his contract. Typically, players of his caliber don’t get that close to free agency without signing an extension. Ujiri’s very public message to Siakam on Media Day: you’ll have to earn it – the natural implication being that he hadn’t already.”

A two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, Siakam will become an unrestricted free agent following the 2023-24 season. This season, he’s played well for Toronto, averaging 22.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 28.8 percent from beyond the arc.

The Raptors seem to be going through a bit of a transition, as they also lost guard Fred VanVleet this past offseason in free agency. He signed with the Houston Rockets.

With the team already moving on from Anunoby and currently sitting in the No. 12 spot in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors may look to move Siakam this season.

Since the team reportedly didn’t involve him in the offseason this past summer, it wouldn’t make sense to keep Siakam long term unless the team plans to build around him as part of its core.

The Raptors may decide to get younger and build around former Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes and recently acquired players like RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley. While Quickley is a restricted free agent this coming offseason, the Raptors will be able to match any offer sheet he signs.

Siakam was a key part of Toronto’s championship in the 2018-19 season, but the Raptors have yet to find that same success since Kawhi Leonard left the franchise.

Ujiri and the Raptors front office may look to start fresh with the assets that it could acquire in a deal for Siakam, who will likely be a coveted asset at the trade deadline.

The 29-year-old forward has averaged at least 21.4 points per game in each of the last five seasons, including the current campaign. There aren’t many players that offer the scoring upside that Siakam does that could be available at this season’s deadline.

It’ll be interesting to see if Toronto tries to move forward with Siakam or ultimately starts a new chapter with Barnes as the franchise’s cornerstone.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball, football and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Hall of Famer claims Steph Curry would’ve averaged 17 PPG or less in his era: ‘We would’ve hurt him’

An anonymous Hall of Famer allegedly told ESPN's Stephen A. Smith that if Golden State…

2 hours ago

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

1 day ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

2 days ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

3 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

5 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

6 days ago