It’s shaping up to be an intriguing, pivotal off-season for the Toronto Raptors and next season’s opening-day roster could look quite different than the one that finished the 2020-21 campaign 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 27-45 record.
According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors could attempt to upgrade their starting five and he writes “one name to watch” is forward Pascal Siakam.
The Warriors currently hold the No. 7 and No. 14 picks in the 2021 NBA Draft, scheduled to take place July 29, and Hollinger suggests there is “widespread speculation” the team could package the seventh pick and 2020 second-overall selection, centre James Wiseman, in the hopes of improving their immediate title aspirations.
Siakam is set to earn more than $33 million in 2021-22 and is signed through 2023-24. The 27-year-old has led the Raptors in scoring the previous two years, averaging 21.4 points per game this past season.
Hollinger also reported league sources “widely expect” Gary Trent Jr. to re-sign with the Raptors. Trent was acquired by Toronto from the Portland Trail Blazers in the Norman Powell trade and has an affordable $2.2-million salary cap hold. Trent, 22, averaged 16.2 points per game and started 15 contests for the Raptors down the stretch.
Perhaps the biggest question the Raptors face this summer is whether or not to bring back 35-year-old pending free agent point guard Kyle Lowry.
The Raptors moved up several spots after getting lucky at the draft lottery and now hold the No. 4 pick where the team could potentially target highly touted Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs as a replacement for Lowry.
Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012-13.
