Mavs Remain Interested in Trade for Raptors' Pascal Siakam; Price is 'Too Steep'

The Mavs remain among interested trade suitors for Pascal Siakam, but there are some clear obstacles to getting a deal done.

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks remain interested in upgrading the power forward position ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Grant Williams was the team's marquee offseason addition, but he's fallen out of favor in the starting lineup. The Mavs plan to start Dante Exum and Derrick Jones Jr. on the wing next to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Dereck Lively II when healthy, but they remain in the trade market again.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Mavs remain interested in a trade for Pascal Siakam, along with the Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers. The main obstacle for any team seeking a trade for Siakam is his status as an expiring contract, requiring a long-term commitment if a trade is made ahead of free agency. 

"Will he commit to a team long-term when he's traded, like a team like Sacramento or wherever, Dallas, Atlanta, Indiana, all teams interested in Pascal Siakam? But if you're going to trade for a guy like that, give up multiple assets and multiple rotation players, you want to know where you stand," Charania said on FanDuel TV's "Run It Back" on Monday. "And so this is a complex situation."

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Toronto is seeking immediate contributors to add to the core around Scottie Barnes, R.J. Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley, making it challenging to get a deal done. Until the Raptors adjust their aspirations, the landscape will remain stagnant. 

The Sacramento Kings emerged rapidly as a potential trade suitor for Siakam, but the talks stalled out after they were unwilling to include Keegan Murray in a deal. They went from a team to monitor to being "out" on a deal, telling Toronto only to call back if willing to accept a deal headlined by Harrison Barnes. 

How Pascal Siakam's Trade Market Impacts Mavs' Ability to Make Midseason Upgrade

Whether it's been the Kings or Golden State Warriors, teams have been unwilling to part with their top young players in a deal for Siakam. With the Hawks not wanting to part with Jalen Johnson in any move at the trade deadline, even Atlanta remains in a position with a challenging pathway to complete a deal. 

Dallas's contracts for salary matching purposes would likely be an issue in any trade pursuit for a talented, costly player like Siakam. Richaun Holmes has not been a rotation player for multiple seasons and has a $12.9 million player option for 2024-25. Tim Hardaway Jr. wouldn't necessarily check many boxes for Toronto at $16.2 million next season, either. Williams has underachieved to start his four-year, $52 million deal, while Maxi Kleber has been unable to stay healthy and is signed through 2025-26 for $11 million per season.

The Mavs remain in a similar situation and surely remain unwilling to include Dereck Lively II in a trade due to his importance as a rim protector and play-finisher. It would be challenging even to include a young player like Josh Green in a deal if there isn't an established belief in getting a contract done this summer, similar to how Dallas traded for Kyrie Irving last season despite him being in the final year of his contract. Green is also subject to the Poison Pill Provision since he has yet to start the four-year, $52 million contract extension he signed before the season.