Report: Raptors’ Pascal Siakam Doesn’t See Kings as ‘Good Long-Term Fit’

Details on the most recent Sacramento Kings trade rumors continue to unravel.

After riding the rollercoaster of trade rumors connecting the Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors’ 2x All-Star Pascal Siakam, more developments continue to unveil on the sudden fallout that occurred this past week.

Initial reports mentioned the Kings as frontrunners for Siakam in a deal after being linked to a collection of opposing teams around the NBA. However, just a few minutes after the news was released, it was revealed that Sacramento had dropped out of the sweepstakes to acquire him, effectively ending any discussion with the Raptors.

It was a bit unprecedented to see such a quick turnaround from having interest to falling out, but new information surrounding the deal is starting to make sense of the situation entirely.

According to a report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, it seems Siakam isn’t interested in the long-term prospects of a potential move to Sacramento:

"It remains possible that the Raptors and Siakam will agree on an extension, especially if the trade market is underwhelming enough that Toronto’s president, Masai Ujiri, decides to hold onto him past the deadline. But either way, Siakam is seeking a full-term, max-salary deal no matter where he ultimately lands. And while Siakam has not asked for a trade, the sources say he doesn’t view the Kings as a good long-term fit if the Raptors choose to move him."

The idea of signing Siakam to a heavy, long-term deal in Sacramento is just a bit too big of a hurdle to jump. With All-NBA stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis locked into max deals of their own, along with a deal for sophomore Keegan Murray approaching sooner rather than later, it would just be too hard to retain him into next season and beyond for the money he’s looking to make.

Later in Amick’s report, he talks about how since the ending of Sacramento’s involvement, the Indiana Pacers have jumped out as potential favorites to add Siakam in a move leading up to the deadline:

Whether it’s the Kings or any other team that is taking a serious look at Siakam — the Indiana Pacers are seen by some rival executives as the leaders in this pack — the factors in play are somewhat similar to those that led to Toronto’s trade with San Antonio for Leonard in the summer of 2018. There will be no promises made about his free agency future for any team, with the pursuing organization needing to roll the dice and hope for the kind of best-case scenario that unfolded when the Raptors won it all during their one season with Leonard in 2019. It’s a gamble, to be sure, one that the Kings and perhaps others are thinking twice about making. And with good reason.

Instead of landing in Sac-Town, Siakam is looking for a place he can call home for the next chapter of his career. He turns 30 years old this April, now entering the last few years in his prime. Being a rental player with the Kings for five months before inevitably uprooting again to go elsewhere is not something he’s exactly desiring.

The Pacers, on the other hand, provide a place where Siakam can settle across the next few seasons to play competitive basketball while getting paid the type of contract he deserves. While there is no guarantee he would sustain a commitment to stay on any roster ahead of his pending free agency, it’s a move a team like the Pacers can afford to make, considering their current cap flexibility.

While the deal for Pascal has fallen through, a ton of time remains between now and the NBA trade deadline for the team to make a blockbuster move. Expect to hear many more whispers surrounding the Kings as we approach the looming February 8th league cutoff.

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