Raptors on their way to losing another star for nothing
The Toronto Raptors have another star reaching free agency. Once again, they’re standing pat.
The Raptors appear to have put themselves in a bit of a pickle and there’s no obvious way out. Sounds like there’s no traction on an extension with Pascal Siakam and, as @michaelgrange notes, “no one is going to pay top dollar for a half-season of work from a player who could…
— (@AaronBenRose) December 28, 2023
Raptors forward Pascal Siakam is in the final year of his contract. While he can sign a four-year extension with the team for up to four years and $192M anytime before June 30, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reports that “each side has eyed Dec. 30 as a potential impetus to reach a decision.” That strongly implies that Siakam will reach free agency, the next in a series of stars from Toronto’s 2019 championship team to do so.
This summer, Fred VanVleet left for the Houston Rockets in free agency. In 2021, it was Kyle Lowry leaving for the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade. Marc Gasol left as a free agent in 2020. All that Toronto got in return was Precious Achiuwa, who has averaged nine points per game in two-and-a-half seasons with the Raptors.
The problem seems to be Toronto’s indecisiveness. It doesn’t want to re-sign its veterans, but it also doesn’t want to trade them and get something back. The team doesn’t want to reset the team or rebuild around 2021-22 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, but it also doesn’t have a playoff-caliber supporting cast around him.
It may be too late to extract true value from a two-time All-Star like Siakam. As Grange writes, “No one is going to pay top dollar for a half-season of work from a player who could leave in free agency.”
With the Raptors in 12th place with a 12-18 record, they need to figure out what’s happening with Siakam. The same goes for OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr., who can both become free agents after the season. No matter what direction the Raptors choose, losing starters for nothing in return isn’t going to get them anywhere.
