The Atlanta Hawks reportedly made a strong offer to the Toronto Raptors for two-time All-Star Pascal Siakam.
According to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, the Hawks offered Toronto “a package” that included De’Andre Hunter, A.J. Griffin and draft picks. The Raptors, however, are seeking even more in a return:
“Atlanta has offered a package centered around De’Andre Hunter, AJ Griffin and draft compensation to Toronto for Siakam, league sources say. But the Raptors are believed to have upped the price on any possible deal at each turn.
For now, talks are at a complete pause, and the Hawks are fully prepared to enter the 2023-24 season with their current team, according to league sources. For now, Siakam is a Raptor, and even without an extension, he could very well remain one through the trade deadline.”
Charania noted that the 2019 NBA Champion is eligible to sign a four-year extension with the Raptors for a minimum of $192 million. Siakam is entering the final season of a four-year, $130 million extension he signed in Oct. 2019.
The Hawks finished 41-41 a season ago and qualified as the No. 7 seed in the East, but they were ousted by the Boston Celtics in six games.
The Raptors haven’t exactly given any hints as to whether or not they’re looking to be competitive or rebuild in 2023. They lost star guard Fred VanVleet for nothing in free agency to the Houston Rockets, just a few months after they reacquired Jakob Poeltl from the San Antonio Spurs for Khem Birch and three draft picks.
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After losing cornerstone players in Kawhi Leonard (in 2019) and VanVleet for nothing in free agency, one has to think the Raptors will ultimately trade Siakam if the two sides don’t work out a contract extension.
In 71 games last season, the 29-year-old Siakam averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. For his career, Siakam has career averaged 17 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
