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The NBA’s trade marketplace is beginning to take shape as the In-Season Tournament concludes and critical trade eligibility dates draw near. With the 25-game mark for most teams approaching, along with the forthcoming Dec. 15 date for free agents to become trade-eligible, interest in potential trades is escalating. The G League Showcase, scheduled for Dec. 19-22 in Orlando, Fla., is also seen as a crucial event akin to baseball’s Winter Meetings, signifying the unofficial start of the NBA’s trade season.
Among the teams attracting attention as potential movers and shakers are the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls. Despite Raptors President and Vice Chairman Masai Ujiri and General Manager Bobby Webster’s consistent support for their core players—Scottie Barnes, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby—rumors abound regarding the possibility of trade moves. As Toronto has suffered three consecutive losses and holds a 9-13 record this season, speculations have intensified, hinting that either Siakam or Anunoby could be traded by the Feb. 8 deadline.
As the trade talks gather momentum, a prominent NBA insider has linked a championship-winning star to the Atlanta Hawks as a potential trade target. The Hawks, along with the Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings, are believed to be ‘expected suitors’ for Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, as per Shams Charania of The Athletic. The potential trade involving Siakam has been hindered by his stance on not signing an extension with his prospective new team, being in the final year of a four-year, $136.9 million contract. Though the Hawks seemed to have a void at power forward following the trade of John Collins to the Utah Jazz, the emergence of third-year forward Jalen Johnson this season has possibly altered their approach.
Meanwhile, the Sacramento Kings have reportedly expressed prior interest in Siakam over the past year. The Kings, alongside the Hawks and Pacers, have “checked in and engaged” about potentially acquiring the two-time NBA All-Star, as reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Siakam, who averaged a career-best 24.2 points per game last season, has garnered significant attention from multiple teams vying for his services.
As the NBA trade season gains momentum, the buzz surrounding potential deals involving Pascal Siakam continues to captivate the league and its followers. With the Feb. 8 trade deadline approaching, fans and analysts eagerly await further developments in what promises to be an intriguing and eventful period for the NBA’s landscape.
