As the 2023 offseason kicks into full gear, the Raptors are at the center of a number of rumors. From decisions surrounding key free agents to potential trades, there's a reason why ESPN's Zach Lowe has said that "there's a lot of volatility" in Toronto.
In the lead-up to the draft, Sportsnet's Michael Grange reported that the Hawks have been "insistent" in their pursuit of Pascal Siakam, who, as it stands, fully intends on remaining with the Raptors for the upcoming season and beyond.
Atlanta made headlines recently with its salary-saving move to deal John Collins to Utah, prompting questions of whether or not that trade could be the precursor for another deal. And while losing Collins also means Atlanta has one less valuable player to offer in a potential trade, the Hawks' newfound financial flexibility could move them closer to acting on their well-known interest in Siakam.
It's worth noting that Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported that "the Hawks have told opposing teams Atlanta is open to conversations about all of its roster outside of Trae Young."
What would this deal even look like? Siakam, who played at an All-Star level last season, demands a respectable return. That said, Atlanta can put together a number of packages that could entice Masai Ujiri, Bobby Webster and the rest of the Raptors' brass.
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Pascal Siakam contract details
In order to begin discussing what a deal could potentially look like, let's first take a closer look at Siakam's deal.
Siakam is entering the final year of a four-year, $136.9 million contract extension signed prior to the 2019-20 season. Siakam, who is extension-eligible, will earn $37.9 million in the 2023-24 season.
Siakam's potential to become a free agent next offseason will be a major component of any potential trade talks.
| Year | Salary |
| 2023-24 | $37,893,408 |
| 2024-25 | UFA |
How the Hawks could acquire Pascal Siakam from the Raptors
Option 1: A Dejounte Murray deal
Just last offseason, Atlanta parted ways with three first-round picks and an additional pick swap to acquire Murray and pair him in the backcourt with Trae Young.
With Murray in the final year of a relatively team-friendly deal, much more salary would need to be added to make the deal work, but as a one-time All-Star, he would be the feature piece. Murray is eligible to stay long-term on an extension worth around $120 million over four years.
Good as Murray has been, perhaps the Hawks decide to go in a different direction from having two ball-dominant guards in their backcourt. And instead of viewing the picks they traded for Murray as a waste, it could be viewed as the picks facilitated the deal that ultimately became Siakam.
The Raptors, who are facing the very real possibility of losing Fred VanVleet via free agency, would get a slightly younger guard that could better fit the timeline of the team's young core.
It's definitely not a one-for-one replacement, but where Murray lacks in perimeter shooting ability, he makes up for in size. He also brings tenacious perimeter defense, rebounds well for his position and has great playmaking chops.
To make the money work in these deals, adding Bogdan Bogdanovic is almost a must. A sweetener for the Raptors, Bogdanovic adds more shooting and would be another playmaker.
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Option 2: A De'Andre Hunter deal
The wing is getting pretty crowded in Atlanta, making Hunter a different option as a centerpiece for a deal.
The former No. 4 overall pick fits the Raptors' desired player profile as a big forward with defensive versatility, and head coach Darko Rajakovic could make Hunter his newest developmental success story.
The problem lies within Hunter finding himself again in a similar situation, joining a crowded wing area with plenty of positional overlap in Toronto. In theory, this would have to be part of a larger deal or a precursor to yet another deal from the Raptors.
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Option 3: A Trae Young deal
According to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, Young is the only player on Atlanta's roster that has not been made available in trades. But we've still got to acknowledge the possibility of a one-for-one swap.
Young's making a little over $40 million this season, which is the second year of a five-year maximum extension signed in 2021. In this case, Young immediately becomes Toronto's franchise player and gets a new beginning around a team that, given its defensive profile, would be a great fit.
This is a trade call that the Hawks would probably not even take, as the goal is to pair Siakam with Young. It would signify a pivot to make Murray the team's point guard of the future and a commitment to a complete overhaul of the roster — and team brand — identity.
Given the way this one shakes out, the Raptors would be the ones that needed to add a sweetener to get the deal done.
