Ranking the Toronto Raptors roster based on their current contracts

No. 1: Pascal Siakam

Season Win Shares: 4.8           Current cap-figure: $1.5 million

When analyzing the Raptors’ roster through an economic lens, no player has made more of an impact this year than Pascal Siakam at his current price tag.

In his third year in the league, Siakam has taken more than a step forward. He’s taken a full-scale leap.

Last year, the forward posted averages of 7.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and a pair of assists in 20.7 minutes per game. Outside of statistical output, it was clear that Siakam had the ability to make an impact. He just needed to be given the time to make it.

Given time, due to the trade of Jakob Poeltl, the loss of Lucas Nogueira and the move of Ibaka from forward to stretch five, Siakam has shined.

In 30.6 minutes per game, Siakam has posted 15 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on an efficient eFG percentage of 61.7, good for the best mark of all Raptors’ starters.

Not to mention, the spin move from Siakam rivals nearly every NBA player:

Financially, the former 27th overall pick is only being paid just north of $1.5 million. His contract, when weighed against the other impact players on the team is merely a grain of sand. In win shares, he has 3.2 per $1 million, by far the highest mark on the roster. In fact, the 3.2 shares match up relatively favorably with any player in the league.

For comparison, a fellow top-20 win shares member in the league, Kyrie Irving (4.9) is being paid a shade over $20 million. Eric Bledsoe, with fewer win shares (4.1), is being paid $15 million.

Though he is not the teams’ best player overall, he provides more bang for the Raptors’ buck than any player in recent memory.

If there were a Black Friday sale on NBA impact players, Siakam would be the roster addition that caused the most violence at the door for his acquisition.