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Separation between Raptors, Siakam widening as prospects start slow at Summer League



Separation between Raptors, Siakam widening as prospects start slow at Summer League

by inxrx8

10 Comments

  1. Dry_Band_Aid333

    This article just paints a picture, of the last legs of a failing franchise.

  2. EarthWarping

    >It’s become a bit of a tradition for established members of the “big” team to sit on the sidelines for the Summer League games. It’s not mandatory and attendance isn’t 100 per cent, but it’s encouraged, and most teams have a good representation of their vets on hand.

    >**But it was also hoped that having their own dedicated space would entice veterans – who can stay in Vegas at team expense – to stay in town, get their workouts in and begin fostering some of the team spirit that seemed missing at times last season.**

    >**The only one to take in the game was Chris Boucher, leaving a whole row of reserved seats otherwise untouched. It was awkward since franchise minority shareholder Larry Tanenbaum, and advisor to the president Wayne Embry, made the effort to be at the game, sitting courtside along with the team’s front office.**

    >The early start didn’t seem to be an issue for Cleveland, which had Evan Mobley, Darius Garland, Georges Niang and others courtside.

    >**No one wants to go on the record as to why Siakam has stayed away, but it seems reasonable to guess that since the Raptors have yet to discuss a contract extension, and instead Siakam has been prominently featured in trade talks, he isn’t all that keen to be on-site in Vegas. After all, it would be awkward cheering on Raptors’ prospects only to learn he’s being dealt the next day, or whatever.**

    >As for if, when or where Siakam might be traded?

    >**Per league sources, the Raptors are still listening, trying to gauge the market value for their leading scorer and leading returning – in theory – playmaker. Atlanta remains a possibility and Indiana has also reached out.**

    >**The Raptors don’t intend to drag the process out for weeks or months, but they don’t seem ready to close the door on a Siakam trade just yet. Meanwhile, they still remain committed to avoiding a total rebuild – in other words, nothing they do or don’t do with Siakam will make them any more inclined to trade O.G. Anunoby…**

    >**But even if the Raptors decide not to trade Siakam – and the seven-year veteran has made it clear his preference is to stay in Toronto – it will be interesting to see how they can foster the kind of team-first, family-type environment the Raptors are hoping to create under new head coach Darko Rajakovic, who has been upfront about making third year forward Scottie Barnes more of the focal point on offence.**

    >So, between the way the first few games of Summer League have gone on the floor and the way the separation between Siakam and the club seems to be widening, if the mission was to make Summer League the launching point for the Raptors’ new energy after a lacklustre 2022-23 season, it’s gotten off to a slow start.

  3. fredvancleef

    What prospects lmao

    Gradey sure, I wouldn’t necessarily call a roster of undrafted /late second round guys true prospects.

  4. mMounirM

    at this point I’m just hoping his little Chris Haynes leak didn’t completely fuck us over and that other teams see it as just a bluff

  5. Particular_Ad_9531

    tl;dr summary – siakam must be getting traded because none of the vets showed up to a summer league game at 12.30 on a Sunday. Somehow grange gets paid to write shit that would taken down as low effort if some rando posted it as their own take.

  6. Pazzaaaaaa

    What a stupid fucking article. Lets be honest, the only summer league player that can somewhat make a difference to the team this year is Dick and it’s hard for him (no pun intended) to show much while playing with this trash summer league team.

    So no, the summer league team sucking ass has zero effect on the actual team.

  7. Scase15

    There’s a couple things to dissect here I think.

    As pro “trade Siakam” as I am, why is it that only him being absent is a sign of a problem, and due to trade rumours? What about everyone else?

    On the flip side, if it **IS** due to the trade rumours…

    > instead Siakam has been prominently featured in trade talks, he isn’t all that keen to be on-site in Vegas. After all, it would be awkward cheering on Raptors’ prospects only to learn he’s being dealt the next day, or whatever.

    If the above is the case, this just goes to show why he **isn’t** the leader on the team. Trade or no, you support your teammates.

    Full disclosure I think the whole thing is a little blown out of proportion. But, I don’t think anyone would be upset if they heard that Scottie wasn’t there cause he was in the gym etc.

  8. BallerDay

    Why would Siakam show up? Apart from Gradey, our SL roster is filled with 35 years old bums that should start to think about a 9 to 5 job rather than play bball

  9. Outland3r_

    Grange just ignoring the anniversary of Pascal’s dad’s death I guess? Pretty good reason to miss out on some summer league

  10. Glubins

    “Ummm, I’m gonna need you to go ahead come in tomorrow. So if you could be here around 9 that would be great, mmmk… oh oh! and I almost forgot ahh, I’m also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday too, kay.”

    Maybe he’s just enjoying his off season after a disappointing year full of stress and speculation. Also summer league has never been very reliable at predicting anything.

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