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BEST SITUATIONS FOR PASCAL SIAKAM

Pascal Siakam is still one of the best power forwards in the league and I would love to see him back on a competent team that is looking to make a jump, either into playoff contention or serious contention. With Toronto trading Vanvleet,  Siakam should be traded too and a full rebuild should begin. Realizing they weren’t a playoff team and letting Lowry go should have already been a sign to make a change. Rookie of the year Scottie Barnes looks capable of taking on more ball handling duties, with him and Siakam being inside out slashers the fit was questionable. Wherever Siakam gets traded to, it must be with intention to sign an extension with that team as this upcoming season is the last year of his deal and he then becomes an unrestricted free agent. 

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1. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

Soon the Cavaliers will not just be looked at as "that young team that can make a jump" and should be looking to make that is one or two moves away. We all saw the lack of toughness displayed this past postseason, part of that was for sure due to inexperience. But, I am of belief Evan Mobley should be the full time center soon. So far the Allen-Mobley duo is of course a defensive nightmare in the paint for opposing teams, but for this Cleveland team to attempt to stack up against the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat's of the world, I think that is with Evan Mobley at the five along side a strong four man. You'd already have a strong backcourt in Mitchell and Garland, following that up with a star front court off Siakam and Mobley potentially. In this hypothetical Cleveland's money would be wrapped up in Garland, Mobley, what should be an eventual Mitchell extension, and Siakam but that would be your core 4 looking to contend by committee. I am not sure what Siakam would garner in free agency but with Love's buyout coming off the books soon Cleveland could be able to have him. The question here would also be would Pascal hinder Mobley's offensive potential, and I would think not as in this system Pascal would have to be less ball dominant for Cleveland's offense to work. It would be an experiment for sure, but Cleveland has begun to think outside the box and make innovative moves.

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2. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

OKC is a very good young team and is ready to make that jump. With having Chet healthy this year I am very excited to see what they will do. I was hesitant to put them on this list since Chet has not played a season yet and pairing him with Siakam immediately could be an adjustment, but he would have to make on regardless. I think Pascal fits their high IQ, fast past, push the ball offense that is so versatile. Oklahoma has a plethora of picks that yes Sam Presti is a genius for acquiring all of them, but they will eventually have to unload some of them and won't be able to use all of their draft picks. Shai, Giddey, Jalen Williams, Lu Dort, and Chet all look to be apart of their longterm future and are all unselfish players. Ousmane Deing is a player as well that I predict to be apart of that core very soon, given time. 

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3.  ATLANTA HAWKS?

The Hawks quickly went back into mediocre no man's land after making the 2021 eastern conference finals. This current Murray-Young duo given the right system could work but has yet to prove continuity, but rather a "your turn, my turn" style of coexistence. But, Quinn Snyder is a great coach and I hope he can hold the two equally accountable and the duo can work. It has been rumored by Shams Charania  already that Atlanta was interested in Siakam, since they have just recently traded away John Collins. Young prospect Jalen Johnson looks very promising but a few years away. Onyeka Okongwu should definitely be pushed into the starting lineup soon, and Capela should be on the trade block. It's been made simple to just acquire spacing and defense to surround Trae and Dejounte. The question here would now be the spacing with a Murray-Siakam-Okongwu pairing. Murray is about an average shooter and Siakam is just below average. It is definitely a questionable fit, but the Hawks seem to tread on mediocrity and having no clear direction. 

Teams like the Nets and Kings crossed my mind but I think that would rather stick with what they have. I would not want to see Siakam on a rebuilding team like the Hornets. Turning twenty-nine this year he is in his prime right now with plenty years of that left. I hope a deal is made soon for him to go back to being a 2nd or 3rd option on a championship team like he was in 2019. If Dallas had the assets that would be interesting as well. I'm of the belief wherever Siakam goes he can play off ball. As far as his contract extension, Jerami Grant got about a 160 million dollar deal over five years, so I can expect Siakam to get around that ball park if not more, but no more than about forty million annually.