Looking like it’s either an extension or a trade as they don’t want to leave this past the deadline into the off season. Only thing we can hope for is either an extension or Siakam is willing to pick his destination now so that raptors can maximize what they get in a deal like they did with OG.
by The_Living_L
18 Comments
~~Why would Pascal accept a 2 years extension when he can wait until FA and sign a 4+ years extension with us or a contender?~~
~~If there is a closure, it’s him getting traded.~~
Please extension please
Unless we are going to have another disappointing losing streak, it’s more extension which benefits us more than trade base on current situation
Since Siakam isn’t going to be getting all-nba, is there any point in him waiting til after the year to extend?
Should have extended him last summer
A few interesting tidbits from Josh here:
> The overwhelming consensus from pundits and several plugged-in league sources is that Siakam will be the next to go, as Raptors team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster continue to retool around Scottie Barnes and, now, the recently acquired Immanuel Quickley.
> And he very well could be. That they just got younger, pairing an ascending 24-year-old guard (and 23-year-old Canadian RJ Barrett) with the 22-year-old Barnes, doesn’t seem to bode well for Siakam, who will turn 30 before the end of the season.
> But, as one source close to the situation cautioned this week, “don’t be so sure.” It’s complicated and it’s fluid, but with about a month to go before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, many are expecting some closure, whether that comes in the form of a trade or a new long-term contract.
> “I wouldn’t be surprised if they offered an extension,” another source said.
____________
> The belief is that they are listening to offers for Siakam, and will continue to listen ahead of the deadline, but at least to this point, none of those talks have gained much traction. “Nothing is close,” said a source, which is why the possibility of an extension is very much in play.
> If the Raptors can’t find an offer that meets their asking price, which has been and remains steep, they’re not going to trade Siakam just to trade him, nor should they. But they also can’t risk losing another key piece – and the last remaining player from their championship core – for nothing in free agency this summer.
> Siakam, who’s set to hit unrestricted free agency in July, can sign an extension worth up to roughly $200 million over four years until the end of June. The Raptors have yet to offer it or even open contract negotiations, and it’s unclear how those talks would go when or if they do. Historically, Ujiri’s front office has prioritized term over annual salary in deals with their veteran players, and if it comes to it, a three-year offer at just under Siakam’s max wouldn’t be surprising. But would something like that be enough to appease Siakam and his camp, who are assuredly looking to get the most out of a contract that will take the two-time All-NBA forward through his prime years?
________
> It’s led a couple of league sources to wonder whether the Raptors’ unusual, and at times disrespectful, treatment of Siakam dating back to last summer has been intended to force his hand, or worse, push him out.
> But after their disappointing 2022-23 season ended with an embarrassing play-in loss to Chicago, Ujiri and Toronto’s front office cut off almost all communication with Siakam last summer, leading the seven-year vet to wonder whether he was being punished, according to a source close to the player. The lack of contact was especially strange, with Siakam entering the final year of his contract. Typically, players of his calibre don’t get that close to free agency without signing an extension. Ujiri’s very public message to Siakam on Media Day: you’ll have to earn it – the natural implication being that he hadn’t already.
> How close was Siakam to getting traded over the summer? It depends who you ask, but there was clearly some very real interest from multiple teams – most notably Atlanta and Indiana – and some very real consideration from the Raptors. Those teams remain in the mix and several others have shown interest, to varying degrees – Sacramento, Dallas, Memphis and Detroit among them. Philadelphia and Golden State could come calling, if they haven’t already, and they just might be interesting enough to push for Siakam’s approval.
> There are hurdles, in addition to getting Siakam’s blessing. The Raptors have indicated that they won’t consider offers centred on draft compensation – those packages are out there, as they were for Anunoby, but Toronto is targeting young players with star upside.
I found a few parts from here interesting. Josh mentioning the FO values term over value in a deal (which we knew, see Kyle and Serge signing larger deals than expected for only 3 years in 2017, or Gary signing a 2+1 in 2021). Even Pascal’s original extension was only 4 years instead of 5.
I think they’re probably gonna offer a 3 year slightly below max extension (not sure the exact number but think a full 3-year max is around 3/130m to 3/140m, guessing we’ll offer 3/120m to 3/130m). However, if Pascal would a 3 year max extension, I think they’ll do it.
I think the Zach Lavine trade market has made them not want to lock Pascal into a 4 year deal. Yes Pascal is better than Zach and has less injury concerns (and is a proven winner) but teams might be hesitant to take on 4 years in his 30s over 40m and approaching 50m per year.
Also it appears the Raptors shitty treatment of Pascal throughout this saga (cutting contact, no extension talks, calling him out and selfish on media day) has caught the eye of some and makes people wonder if they’re trying to get Pascal to open up to be traded. Personally, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Pascal has every right to want to stay here if he does, and does not have to commit to any team that trades for him. Reports have said if we don’t extend him, he’s gonna go into FA and explore his options, so it doesn’t sound like he’ll commit to any team that trades for him.
Combine that with the Kings stuff from yesterday (Shams reporting they’re serious suitors and then a couple hours later saying they’re pulling out), led me to believe they spoke with Pascal and didn’t get the indication he would commit to staying. That, as well as the Raptors likely insistence on Keegan Murray being in a deal, likely ended talks there.
I’m so glad we didn’t have social media during the “will he stay” era (Mighty Mouse, TMac, Carter, Bosh), cause it might have killed the fanbase and this team might have left town like the grizzlies did.
That was long. Is Lewenberg actually Caz?
Most of it could’ve been AI generated by scraping this board.
The only useful reporting was three sourced statements:
1. “Don’t be so sure” that they trade Pascal, from a source close to the situation
2. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they offered an extension” from a different source (proximity to the situation not stated)
3. “Nothing is close” in trade talks, from a source (not clear if it’s a 3rd source, or one of the first sources, and if so which one)
So it seems they are trying to trade pascal but not getting anywhere, and that if they can’t trade him there is a strong possibility they try to extend.
Also interesting was a statement that raptors have never even opened extension negotiations. So “they aren’t close” is misleading, it’s more like “they haven’t even tried yet”. Which is probably more fair to pascal.
The risk might be that pascal tells them to take a hike until the off-season.
They either extend him or get a massive return. Win win both ways imo.
Just like I thought, they haven’t really done right by him. I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t do a thing to help them land the biggest return for him. If I was Siakam, I would want off of this team and not accept any extension they offered knowing they are only doing it to get better trade value for him. He should just walk at the end of the season.
Can’t stand how they have been treating him. They made Siakam the scapegoat last year when in reality, it was the dog shit way they constructed the team that set him up to fail, then when Masai’s vision didn’t work out I guess it was easiest to just blame Pascal. Sorry, not really feeling very warm and fuzzy towards Masai and co. right now, lol.
Unless our FO are absolutely blown away by an offer I’ve always been on the side of re-signing Pascal.
Hard to believe P has “only” played 8 seasons of nba. He’s turned it around quickly since the awful bubble ball.
Wonder if the JB contract really set the bar for P’s camp for negotiations. Seems doubtful Masai would entertain that kind of salary number.
It doesn’t jive that the FO would passive aggressive neg Pascal to try and push him into asking for a trade. That’s something a teenager does when dating – it doesn’t match how this FO operates or their personalities. If they wanted him gone I really think they’d say it to his face lol
It seems more likely they honestly just don’t know if they want to extend him – and they are open to extending him for less money but don’t believe he’s worth a max contract. I think all those things are understandable and that Pascal probably just wants the max.
I hope he extends.
If he does though, as I understand it, the FO will have some work to do to go under the tax.
I don’t see Siakam signing an extension at this point. There is no real benefit for him to do so. If he believes he will get max offers from other teams and he is unhappy with the handling of this situation, why sign now and probably still be traded within the first year of the contract? It would be solid for us but doesn’t really help his situation.
Man fuck this guy lol
Regardless of how this ends, Siakam will be fine and will get his max somewhere else. The Raptors on the other hand will sucks.
[deleted]