The Toronto Raptors have every right to throw their hands up in the air and head into the 2023-24 regular season with their depth chart set in stone, as they have replaced Fred VanVleet with Dennis Schroder and Jalen McDaniels. However, a Pascal Siakam trade remains a very areas possibility.
Michael Grange and Zach Lowe are just two of the names that are stoking the Siakam trade fire in the last few weeks. With reports having leaked out earlier that claimed Siakam wants to stay in Toronto long-term and is not seeking to be traded, a deal for him might be hard to pull off.
However, teams like the Atlanta Hawks will likely not be slowed down, as they have consistently remained connected to him in their eternal quest to find a viable co-star for Trae Young. Siakam would instantly be the best player that Young has ever played alongside in his career.
If the Raptors want to go down such an unusual path, Masai Ujiri needs to ensure that this trio of assets is headed on the first plane to Toronto after the deal is consummated. This trio would help Toronto in the short and long-term future based purely on getting the most value in the deal.
3 Hawks the Toronto Raptors could get in Pascal Siakam trade
3. C Onyeka Okongwu
Okongwu’s true potential will never be reached in Atlanta, as the presence of Clint Capela made it tough for him to get the developmental attention that he needed. While he’s made 65% of his shots in his career, his offensive role is often limited to dunker spot finishing.
Okongwu would also be behind Jakob Poeltl in Toronto, as the Austrian big signed a four-year contract worth an even $20 million per season. Toronto differs from Atlanta because they will likely give Okongwu more minutes and more attention from their developmental staff.
Will the Toronto Raptors get Onyeka Okongwu?
Okongwu is fresh off averaging 9.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while blocking 1.3 shots on average per contest. Even though Precious Achiuwa is in town, Okongwu would have a higher ceiling and start to supplant him in the rotation at the backup center spot.
Taking time away from Achiuwa and essentially ending the Christian Koloko era would be a tough pill to swallow, but Okongwu is in such a rare tier as an athlete for his size that he should be brought to Toronto and worked on consistently. His peak would be a much better two-way player than even Poeltl.
2. SF AJ Griffin
Griffin narrowly missed an opportunity to play alongside his father, as longtime Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin was recently named head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Griffin could keep the Toronto connection alive and well if he is flipped up north in the trade package.
In 72 games, 12 of which he started, Griffin averaged 8.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game while playing some tremendous defense and shooting 39% from 3-point range. Griffin will only be 20 years old at the start of next season, meaning that his potential remains relatively untapped.
AJ Griffin could thrive with the Toronto Raptors.
Part of the reason (perhaps the only one) that Griffin was available at No. 16 overall was the injuries he sustained in his lone season at Duke. From a pure talent perspective, Griffin’s two-way skills would have made him a no-doubt Top 10 performer at full sail.
The Raptors are likely aware of the fact that a healthy Griffin could be a serious weapon alongside Gradey Dick on the Raptors bench for years to come. While he will be difficult to pry away from Atlanta, the Raptors need to make sure they get adequate value back for Siakam.
1. PG Dejounte Murray
Acquiring Murray may eventually lead to a re-routing elsewhere for more picks and players. However, there is a future in which the impending free agent remains in Toronto, proves his worth as a leading offensive option, and secures a long-term contract extension as Fred VanVleet’s replacement.
Murray averaged 20.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in his last two seasons despite Trae Young and many of the other big names on the Hawks roster taking away some of his usual rebounding and shooting opportunities. On a Raptors team that currently lacks a No. 1 option, Murray could serve that role.
Can the Toronto Raptors land Dejounte Murray?
If the Raptors don’t believe Scottie Barnes is ready for a starting point guard role, Murray would be a dominant two-way standout that wouldn’t compromise the team’s defensive integrity while still giving them a nitro boost of finishing and scoring to help replace Siakam.
While the Spurs won next to nothing with Murray leading the charge, surrounding him with rising stars like Barnes, young players like Griffin and Gradey Dick, and proven scorers like OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. could be just enough to do some serious damage in the open Eastern Conference.