Grade the trade: Lakers add Pascal Siakam at deadline in proposed deal
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers have had one of the best offseasons in the entire NBA. Los Angeles hit a home run during free agency as the team was able to not only bring back last year’s core that made the Western Conference Finals but do so at a great price.
Better yet, the Lakers were able to make savvy rotational upgrades. Taurean Prince and Gabe Vincent alone add a lot of depth to the playoff rotation. If one of Jaxson Hayes or Cam Reddish work out then the Lakers are dangerous deep.
As great as things look right now, a lot can change over the course of the first half of the season. There is a world in which the Lakers will need a shot in the arm and could be getting pressured by LeBron James to make a move.
Add in the fact that the team has all but confirmed that D’Angelo Russell will be traded and there is reason to believe that some kind of deal will be made at the deadline. It might not be a small deal either depending on how the trade market shakes out.
Pascal Siakam could be a legitimate trade target for the Lakers at the deadline.
Pascal Siakam has found himself in trade rumors before the 2023-24 season as he enters his last year in the league. Siakam reportedly won’t sign an extension with any team other than the Toronto Raptors, which is going to hurt his trade value.
Toronto is a team that notoriously holds onto guys even when it makes sense to trade them. The Raptors may hold onto Siakam now but by the time February rolls around, it might make more sense for the long-term future of the organization to trade him rather than overpay him on a max extension.
At that point the price will be lower than it even is now and the Lakers could get a deal done if they so pleased. Here is what that deal would look like.