Kings ‘pulling out’ of trade talks with Toronto Raptors for Pascal Siakam, NBA insider Shams Charania says
(FOX40.COM) — The Sacramento Kings are currently sitting in 5th place in the uber-talented Western Conference with a 20-13 record, which is good for four games out of first place.
If the Beam Team wants to catch up to the 24-9 Minnesota Timberwolves, the squad is going to need some reinforcements as the All-Star break approaches.
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According to NBA insider Shams Charania, the Toronto Raptors were “ramping up trade talks” for forward Pascal Siakam. Charania added that the Sacramento Kings were “emerging as a serious suitor.”
But now, it seems as if those trade talks have quickly dissipated. In an update from Shams, he said the Kings have “pulled out of the Pascal Siakam trade talks.”
“These things can be fluid, but Kings-Raptors talks are now over,” he added.
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In a video posted earlier to social media, he went on to say in that video that the idea of combining Siakam with all-stars De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis was intriguing to Sacramento. This logic lines up with how the Phoenix Suns built their team around Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
“They’re among the offers and options that Toronto has, and this is gaining interest for Sacramento,” Charania said
One obstacle that could’ve proven too difficult to overcome in getting Siakam to Sacramento is the prospect of what happens after this season.
At the end of the 2023-2024 season, Siakam will become a free agent, which means that if the Kings were to trade for him and employ his services for the remainder of the year, there is a possibility that he will not start the 2024-2025 season in a Sacramento uniform.
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“[Siakam] is on an expiring contract of about $38 million. So his willingness and desire to resign as a free agent, whether that’s in Sacramento or [with] another team will play a major role in this,” Charania said.
The NBA trade deadline is February 8, and with this news from Charania, the Sacramento Kings will be a team to watch on the rumor mill until then.
Coincidentally, the Kings host Pascal Siakam and the Raptors on Friday night in a regular season matchup that could prove to have more implications than previously expected.
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