Raptors Confirm Discussions to Move Up in Draft & Aware of Pascal Siakam's Preferences

The Toronto Raptors spoke to the Portland Tail Blazers about trading up and were aware of Pascal Siakam's preference to stay with the team

Aaron Rose | Jun 23, 2023

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

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Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors said coming into Thursday’s NBA Draft that they were considering everything.

They’d reportedly considered trading down in the draft and assistant general manager Dan Tolzman essentially confirmed as much earlier in the week. More time, though, was spent looking to moving in the opposite direction, general manager Bobby Webster said.

Moving into the top three in the draft was never going to be easy. The San Antonio Spurs weren’t moving off No. 1 no matter what anyone offered. The Charlotte Hornets eventually seemed pretty locked in on Brandon Miller. The lone hypothetical trade partner was Portland at No. 3 who had reportedly taken calls on the pick as they tried to acquire more talent to stockpile around superstar Damian Lillard.

The problem, though, is teams get excited about the talent some of these prospects may have.

“I mean when we were there in 2021 with four, everyone is coming for you and you get really good offers,” Webster said Thursday. “But you also simultaneously fall in love with whoever you are taking. So, it’s hard.”

How close were the Raptors to making a deal with Portland?

“Go ask them,” Webster said with a chuckle.

It was somewhat eyebrow-raising when news broke early in the evening Thursday that Pascal Siakam was not particularly open to being traded, according to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes. He was letting teams know he might not re-sign on a long-term deal if they traded for him.

Considering there’d been reports that Siakam’s name was being discussed in trade talks, Haynes’ tidbit felt like a response from Siakam’s camp as if to say: Don’t trade for Siakam.

The Raptors were aware of the news, Webster said, declining to comment any further on trade or extension talks.

It’s unclear publicly if Toronto ever got close to anything and the fact of the matter is there’s essentially no such thing as a close deal that doesn’t happen. The Raptors may think they were close to something all the while Portland or someone else may have felt the exact opposite.

What’s clear, though, is the Raptors were having conversations Thursday. Ultimately, those talks didn’t amount to anything, and Toronto ended the night staying put at No. 13 and selecting Gradey Dick.

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