3 most likely Toronto Raptors to be traded before start of season

2. Pascal Siakam

The Raptors could have easily shut down the deluge of trade rumors centered around their best player in the last few weeks, and they have not done so. With only one year remaining on his contract, it is fair to wonder if Siakam is going to remain on this team long-term.

While Siakam wants to stay and has reportedly hinted that he would not be willing to sign an extension with any team that acquires him from the Raptors, Toronto might be too afraid of him eating up a huge chunk of their cap in the future. An All-NBA year could lead to a supermax ask.

Are the Toronto Raptors trading Pascal Siakam?

The return Siakam could net with only one year left on his deal seems to generally be around one impactful young player on a controllable contract, a productive veteran that helps match salary, one unprotected first-round pick, and assorted goodies to sweeten the pot.

The Raptors would need to make a wholesale philosophical change in how they view this current team and their prospects of creating a winner in the next few years even to pull off such a move, but unconventional moves have proven to be a staple of Masai Ujiri’s tenure.