We continue to learn more about the Sacramento Kings’ abandoned pursuit of Pascal Siakam. The Kings were being reported as the front-runners to land Siakam, only to then leak that they had withdrawn from negotiations. Initial reports in local media indicated that Toronto’s asking price was too high, and that the Raptors had wanted Malik Monk as part of the deal. Now additional reporting adds another hurdle: that Siakam did not want to come to Sacramento. ESPN 1320’s Damien Barling was the first to report this, and it has now been confirmed in detail by The Athletic’s Sam Amick. From Amick:
To put it in proper pro sports parlance, it would be a rental. According to two league sources, the Kings should have very little — if any — optimism regarding the prospect of Siakam re-signing in the summer if they were to land him.
Now, I know the natural reaction from Kings fans is to point out all the times a player didn’t want to come to Sacramento, but then fell in love with the city and the fans and stuck around. Chris Webber is the biggest and most obvious comparison. However, Webber arrived with time still on his contract. Siakam is an unrestricted free agent this summer. It’s a very short period of time to win over a player. What if the team doesn’t immediately gel? It’s a huge risk for the Kings to take.
Personally, I would still be willing to trade for Siakam, but given the risk involved the Kings aren’t going to offer up any marquee players as part of the package, nor should they. Toronto may find a better offer, or could decide to extend Siakam and revisit trading him at a later time. Due to CBA rules, Toronto can still extend Siakam, but the Kings would be unable to offer an extension. But the Kings are likely to hold firm on whatever they are willing to offer, and can live with it should Toronto do something else.
Hard Pas(cal).
Beat me to it.
So much for “Welcome to Siakamento!”
Well I’m also now “not be excited” to trade for him. Eff him. Move on to other possibilities.
This comment right here 👆🏽
We don’t want Siakam’s goofy ass here either. Just my opinion, but I believe Markkanen would be a MUCH better fit beside Sabonis. We need weak side help ASAP. A Keegan, Markkanen, and Sabonis frontline would be absolutely insane.
Markkanen sets the bar for weakside help in the NBA?
Pascal, when he doesn’t get the offers he expected:
How much impact do you think the trade rumors have had on the play of Barnes/Huerter/Davion? All three have been rumored, and all three have been not playing well this season.
I think that they were all not playing well prior to the trade rumors.
Yup, they haven’t been playing well since last season.
Yeah, seems like the playoffs broke them fully.
Each time this stuff gets reported it seems to be reported hand in hand with the kings dont want to max him. Will he want to come if Kings max him?
He said he doesn’t want to be here. Period. Then drop him like a hot potato and go find somebody who does. I’m personally tired of him. There are others out there who might be better or at least comporable.
In what way are you tired of Pascal Siakam, and how extensive is your exposure to this quality of his?
He doesn’t want to be here. He says this so IMO I would go after someone else. Also said if he would be traded he would be a free agent after this year. What more do you want to want to trade for this guy?
IMO Cameron Johnson would be a good fit alongside Sabonis. Can shoot the 3 has a defensive rating of 119.6 doesn’t have to be the star and is 27 much younger than Siakam.
This 👆🏽…too
Love you trader Jack.
If Siakem “doesn’t want to be here” whatever that means, then hard pass. This is a bit different than the Weber situation. A rental would not be worth it-lose too much for what 50 games?
Cam Johnson would fit but Nets have to want to trade him. Why would they and for who? Same with Lauri.
Kuzma and LaVine are on the block.
One glaring problem I have seen is that Fox, DS and Monk play 3 man keep away way too often. Kings need D but need a fourth scorer to get them to pass the flipping ball. Last 2 games Keegan has been that guy.
It will not be HB or KH.
A season makes a big difference: KH last year to this. and Kings have not paid for him yet.
If Kings could only give up HB, Davion + a future pick, I would go for either of the weo scorers
I’ve been a fan of Siakam’s for a long time, and would love to get him, but with the odds of him reupping so slim, it wouldn’t be smart. Besides, the man learned what kind of loyalty to a team that a title earns from Kawhi Leonard.
I don’t think that Sacramento could win a title this season even with the Spice Man, but I think they’d be in the mix next season if they were able go get him now and re-sign him. I’m hoping our welcome wagon can make a compelling case to him after the season, because he really is exactly what the Kings need.
Am I crazy in thinking that the Kings already have a younger and projected better version of Pascal in Keegan?
Keegan is doing in year two at age 23 what it took Pascal to do in year 3 at age 24.
I see your point, but I see no downside to having more than one of those guys.
If he doesn’t want here why bother with him?
If Siakam can’t get the monster deal from Toronto, he becomes a UFA on the cusp of signing his last big deal. I actually appreciate that he would let the Kings organization know that he has every intention of testing the market and that they should consider him to be a short-term rental and nothing more. And I sure can’t blame him for wanting to make sure that he positions himself to draw every last penny out of his next contract.
I like the guy as well. But if he sees himself as a rental and is even willing to take less money to go elsewhere–hard pass.
and I think he would improve the Kings this year but more so next year.
Lets also understand a key motive why they are targeting Pascal – to re-sign Monk
At this point early bird is probably not enough and the Kings need to get below the cap
Pascal will take massive salary out and will be expiring. They can deal with Pascal’s contract after Monk’s this summer.
Just moving salary like Huerter/Barnes/Mitchell could cost a unprotected first at this point
I could be wrong, but even if the Kings moved the salaries of Huerter and Barnes to acquire a player like Pascal, who they’d hope to re-sign by via Bird Rights, they’d still be a team “operating” above the cap due to the holds. They’s still be handicapped to Monk’s Early Bird Rights limitations.
Only if they renounced Pascal’s Bird Rights could they pay Monk whatever they want below the cap, but what would be the point of that? Might as well trade Huerter and Barnes for Gordon Hayward and renounce his rights. That would be a lot of assets to give up to hopefully re-sign Monk.
I’ll look it up
Shockingly I’m wondering if Siakam’s value is so low it’s somewhat similar to what we would have to give up just to foist Huerter/Barnes/Davion on someone (if what you say about cap holds is correct)
at this point Malik is integral, and I wouldn’t trust going to FA with that early bird as of now
How much do you think it will take to re-sign Monk this offseason? There aren’t many players with his output making $20M annually.
He’s getting better, complete offensive player, with the cap rising. Could be putting up 20+ with starter minutes, with secondary pg playmaking. Probably the best 6th man going. For a team that could use a starting SG he could make 23-25+ this offseason if he continues to show out, and I think a couple teams have cap and could use him
Lies , lies , lies lol . . I am pretty sure raptors are the only team that can offer him 5 years and a super max. So yeah, why not just wait until free agency and he can talk to whatever team he want and have options. He’s not going to be traded unless it’s in Miami or another big market team that can take a risk. A sign and trade can happen in the off season.
there are only a few teams that can afford him
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