Raptors: 3 2022 All-Stars Pascal Siakam is clearly better than

1. Zach LaVine

LaVine cashed in with a well-deserved contract that keeps him in Chicago for the foreseeable future. Lavine can fill up the stat sheet on a playoff-caliber Bulls team, but any list that has him ranked at a level equal to or above Siakam needs to go back and do their homework.

LaVine averaged 24.4 points per game last year, showing that he can be productive on a team that escaped the lottery. Even so, Siakam was more impactful. Toronto was 8.0 points per 100 possessions better when he was on the floor, while Chicago was just below even with LaVine.

No matter what Bill Simmons says, Siakam is miles clear.

Toronto Raptors: Pascal Siakam is more impactful than Zach LaVine.

LaVine and Siakam are both going to be instrumental members of teams destined to duke it out for respect in the postseason. Where Siakam gets the pedigree edge is in the multiplicity he brings to the table. Even as a guard, LaVine can’t match up as a passer, defender, and leader.

LaVine and Siakam were both “3B” players. Even though they are asked to do different things by their respective coaches, Siakam’s ability to lead Toronto on both ends while backing those performances up in the postseason should help him start to separate.