The Toronto Raptors are closer to officially finalizing a Pascal Siakam trade than ever before. Social media was set ablaze last night, as a semi-concrete offer on the table emerged that may set the Raptors up well for life after Siakam and their new era under Scottie Barnes.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that Toronto and the Indiana Pacers are engaged in a deal that would send Siakam away. While few names have been finalized, Charania mentioned that salary filler and three first-round draft picks will be coming to Toronto along with veteran stopper Bruce Brown.
The Raptors' are on the brink of starting a new era of basketball with Barnes and others stepping to replace the old guard. With Siakam's future in Toronto all but shut down for good, the time to look forward to what may be some very green pastures up ahead is now.
Still, Toronto has half a season to finish out right now, and the always competitive Masai Ujiri is likely not going to give up on a play-in spot that easily. As Darko Rajakovic's wild rookie season as a coach continues on, these three players need to be prepared for some enhanced roles coming their way.
3 Toronto Raptors who would have enhanced roles after Pascal Siakam trade.
3. PF Chris Boucher
The Raptors may have gone from having too many power forwards to not enough. As Precious Achiuwa and Siakam fade away, Boucher is the ultimate survivor. He is both the final vestige of the championship team still on the roster and one of the few remaining viable big men on the Raptors' new-look roster.
Boucher is not leaving the rotation anytime soon, and the uncertain nature of the Raptors' return in this trade package means that he will likely be tasked to make up for a lot in Toronto's suddenly barren frontcourt. His play has been mixed this year, but he's had some nice stretches after the Anunoby trade.
Chris Boucher will keep getting minutes for the Toronto Raptors.
Boucher's role should be very limited and specific, but he's shown to be able to effectively execute his marching orders when they conform to his strengths. It'll be hard to see a situation where he isn't in the rotation, even when Jakob Poeltl returns from his injury in the next few weeks.
Boucher is getting a bit long in the tooth, and the Raptors' youth movement could lead to him potentially being on his way out at the end of this season. If he wants to stay in Toronto, the next few months of his performance will be absolutely critical.
2. SF RJ Barrett
While Immanuel Quickley may end up being the more important player of the two due to his status as the unofficial point guard of the future, the allegedly "bland" Barrett's improved offensive play as a starter on the new team has to have this coaching staff imagining a future where he is a key wing player for years to come.
Barrett has averaged 19.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in eight games with the Raptors despite having a four-point game mixed in there. Barrett has taken a sharp step forward from the 3-point line after being traded from the Knicks, which has been one of the main reasons his offense has been boosted to this degree.
RJ Barrett could be a long-term piece for the Toronto Raptors.
Siakam's ability to, using the common parlance, get buckets in the half-court might be what the team misses the most in the immediate future, and Barrett might be the best scorer in similar situations currently on the roster. While some wondered about his long-term ceiling, no one ever questioned his offensive skills.
Barrett is still just 23 years old, giving Toronto some hope they could be in for his best seasons in the next couple of campaigns. While playing like Siakam is a hard bar to clear, Barrett should at least make up for some of the scoring as Barnes tries to gradually elevate his overall game.
1. PF Scottie Barnes
The gloves are off now. The Raptors have expressly confirmed that this team is going to belong to Barnes and Barnes alone in the next few years. Masai Ujiri's next rebuilding project will only be as successful as Scottie ends up being, as he will drive Toronto's style of play on both ends of the floor.
While Barnes benefitted from playing alongside a gravitational force like Siakam, the opposing team's best defensive player will not be focused squarely on him. That's a tall task for a player as young as Barnes, but Toronto made these moves with the intention of Scottie eventually making that leap.
The Toronto Raptors are dependent on Scottie Barnes becoming a star.
Barnes has become a much better defender this season, all while maintaining his excellent playmaking ability and scorching the nets from 3-point range. His numbers this year are fantastic, but the transition from fringe All-Star to All-Star lock will need to happen sooner rather than later.
The Raptors wouldn't make this move if they didn't think Barnes could be a primary option on a team with championship aspirations. Barnes has all the talent in the world, and it's on him and the coaching staff to put together a plan that helps him get the most out of himself.