The two stars on the trade market that are most readily available are Damian Lillard and Pascal Siakam, the latter of which the Hawks are pursuing.
Atlanta has reportedly been the most connected club to the Raptors star, and it could be of the three-team trade variety. NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Hawks have an “increased willingness” to trade Clint Capela, and the Mavericks may be a landing spot.
However, there could be another club that might facilitate the trade. Dan Favale of Bleacher Report mocked a potential deal involving the Spurs that lands Siakam in Atlanta.
Atlanta Hawks Receive: Reggie Bullock, Pascal Siakam
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Clint Capela
Toronto Raptors Receive: Kobe Bufkin, Devonte’ Graham, De’Andre Hunter, Sacramento’s 2024 first-round pick (lottery protection), 2025 first-round pick (less favorable of Atlanta’s, Chicago’s and San Antonio’s, with top-10 protection, via the Spurs)
Hunter and Bufkin are “well, duh” inclusions. The Raptors just lost an All-Star-caliber guard in Fred VanVleet and need backcourt scoring, shooting and defense. Bufkin can check at least two of those boxes. Hunter is critical for salary-matching purposes yet keeps in theme with Toronto’s combo-wing motif.
Finding a third team that values Capela feels like the defining aspect of prospective negotiations—unless Atlanta wants to fork over Bogdan Bogdanović. The Spurs can afford to take on the final two years and $42.9 million of his deal and could stand to bring in another serviceable big who spares Victor Wembanyama from as many center responsibilities as possible.
Whether San Antonio would surrender a first at this stage of the rebuild is debatable. But this pick profiles as lower level, and the Spurs are getting out of Graham’s partial guarantee for 2024-25 and actually increasing their current cap space. They can yank Bullock from the table if they’d rather keep him.
Toronto walks away with Bufkin, Hunter and two first-round picks—a worthwhile package for contract-year Siakam, and one that jibes with the organization’s caught-between-rebuilding-and-competing direction.
Pascal Siakam is 29 years old and is entering a contract year after averaging 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game this past season. He certainly isn’t an efficient three-point shooter, but he is a versatile defender and can score in other ways than beyond the arc.
He’s a two-time All-Star, earned All-NBA honors, and is a former champion. So, there are certainly desirable attributes, but the most critical aspect of this potential deal is Siakam heading into the final year of a four-year, $136.9 million contract.
Would the Hawks be willing to give up assets for a potential one-year rental?
Clint Capela is entering the first year of a two-year, $46 million contract and is coming off a season in which he averaged 12.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. He’s an anchor defensively and a menace on the boards, but his offense is extremely limited.
Onyeka Okongwu‘s ceiling is much higher than that of Capela. I have advocated for moving the veteran center to open up minutes for the youngster. Much of Capela’s value on the offensive end is directly tied to Trae Young‘s facilitating. OO found a jump shot in just one offseason; imagine what he could do with even more opportunities.
De’Andre Hunter is another part of this deal. The 25-year-old former 4th overall pick is coming off a season in which he averaged 15.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists while appearing in the most games of his career. He’s entering the first of a four-year, $90 million deal, which is a bargain for today’s NBA. He certainly hasn’t realized his full potential, dealing with inconsistencies and injuries, but when he’s right, he’s a solid two-way player.
Kobe Bufkin is the last piece of the deal on the Hawks’ end. The 15th overall pick in this year’s draft averaged 14.0 points with 3.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds across five appearances in the Summer League but did not shoot the ball well at all — 33.3% from the field and 13.8% from beyond the arc. Still, he showed no wavering confidence, defending well and facilitating to his teammates.
If the Hawks don’t have to give up one of Jalen Johnson, A.J. Griffin, or Onyeka Okongwu, I do this deal every day of the week. I don’t know if Pascal Siakam makes the club a championship contender, but it would improve the roster. My biggest gripe is mock trades that involve too high of an asking price. The Raptors are delusional if they think they’re getting a haul of young talent and draft picks for a potential one-year rental.
Who knows? Maybe Siakam will sign an extension with the Hawks.
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Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire
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