Toronto Raptors: What is Pascal Siakam’s ceiling?
By Jason Mills
Pascal Siakam just keeps getting better every game for the Toronto Raptors. He does not appear to be finished developing, so just how high is the ceiling on his talent?
Pascal Siakam has been a pleasant revelation for the Toronto Raptors and appears to have a high ceiling on his potential. The one remaining Raptors’ 2016 first-round draft pick (he was selected 27th overall) has already exceeded expectations and then some, to say the least.
The 2019/2020 season is somewhat a transitional year for the Raptors with projects, expiring contracts and two young players (Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby) that general manager, Bobby Webster, and president, Masai Ujiri, may consider building the team around. Siakam is making that decision easy.
In the off-season of 2018, when Raptors’ management decided to trade DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, the San Antonio Spurs also accepted Siakam’s draft class ex-teammate Jakob Poeltl. Poeltl was drafted 9th overall by the Raptors in 2016 18 spots higher than Siakam.
The Spurs are great assessors of talent but Poeltl, who plays the same position as Siakam, is still a role player with the Spurs.
Meanwhile, Siakam has gone from a part-time starter in his rookie season to a useful member of the bench in his sophomore year. He became a permanent starter and second scoring option in his third year. Now in year four, the Toronto Raptors are essentially Siakam’s team.
He is the talented leader who puts up the stats while Kyle Lowry, currently out with a fractured thumb, is the spiritual leader of the team.
In the Raptors near quarter-century history, they have had three draft picks turn out to be the franchise player. Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, and DeMar DeRozan were all lottery picks but Siakam may be the next superstar of this team as a late 1st round pick.
Siakam’s ceiling appears high because he plays in a winning culture, his basketball IQ and desire along with his athleticism allow him to play at a high level, and his statistics to date do not lie as he has improved every year.