NFL
By: Greg Rector
Pascal Siakam was traded away from the only NBA team he has ever known. He was dealt to the Indiana Pacers and the return might not be what fans of We The North expected. The Toronto Raptors grabbed three first-round draft picks, two in the next draft and another in the 2026 NBA draft along with Bruce Brown and Jordan Nwora, and in a contract move, the New Orleans Pelicans also sent Kira Lewis to the Toronto Raptors.
The Decision
Why Pascal Siakam wasn’t moved at the last NBA trade deadline shocked me. However, he remained in Toronto and was finally traded today. The Toronto Raptors organization was split on keeping him and signing him to an extension or making a trade for him.
The Indiana Pacers benefited greatly immediately while the Toronto Raptors accelerated the Scottie Barnes era of the team. After dealing OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks and acquiring Immanuel Quickly and Canadian RJ Barrett the final nail in Pascal Siakam’s career with the Toronto Raptors was decided.
The Toronto Raptors opened up plenty of salary cap space with the trading of Pascal Siakam. The new-look Toronto Raptors opened up the post-Pascal Siakam era with a huge win against the Miami Heat beating the Heat by a score of 121-97. At the halfway point of the season, the Toronto Raptors are 16-25.
Toronto Raptors
Let’s look at the new Toronto Raptors roster which should be in place until the trade deadline.
Jakob Poetl – Center
Scottie Barnes – PF
RJ Barrett – SF
I=mmanuel Quickly – PG
Gary Trent Jr- SG
Immanuel Quickly has quickly become a fan favorite and he almost scored a triple-double with 17 points 9 assists and 8 rebounds against the Miami Heat. This move with the New York Knicks was a steal in my opinion and Quickly provides another weapon from the outside as does RJ Barrett. These two former Knicks will open the floor much more so for Scottie Barnes.
Moving Gary Trent Jr back into the starting lineup also gives the Toronto Raptors another outside shooter. Keeping Jakob Poetl might only last until the trade deadline as Trent Jr might also get moved because of his contract. Poetl is now the only big man on the Raptors as Christain Koloko was released.
Toronto Raptors Looking Ahead
With the trade deadline rapidly approaching this Toronto Raptors team now clearly is the Scottie Barnes Raptors. What GM Bobby Webster and team President Masai Ujuri decide to do going forward will determine the fate of We The North fans.
The NBA draft in 2024 doesn’t have the marquee names but then again the year the Toronto Raptors drafted Pascal Siakam that draft wasn’t loaded with big names either. So it will be interesting to see where the Toronto Raptors go. Do they keep the draft picks or do they deal them to get someone else to help Scottie Barnes?
All I know is the current Toronto Raptors in just four and a half seasons now have NO ONE left from the 2019 NBA championship team. Time flies by very fast in the NBA and not having any member of the championship team kind of hurts but the world of professional basketball is about today and not what was.
I wish Pascal Siakam all the best with the Indiana Pacers.
