2. Pelicans and Raptors challenge trade
Pascal Siakam is available (subscription required), but it will not be cheap to acquire his expiring contract. He reportedly wants an extension in Toronto, but the Raptors have not given him one.
The franchise is at a crossroads after losing Fred VanVleet. They appear committed to trying to contend, but the Raptors could be back in the Play-In Tournament without their starting point guard. Does Toronto make a challenge trade to change their fortunes?
Zion is six years younger and under contract for the next five seasons. Fans can debate who is the better player right now, but his youth and team control make the current Pelicans star more valuable. The Raptors could run out a scary lineup of Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, Jakob Poeltl, Gary Trent Jr., and Williamson that would be nearly impossible to stop.
The Pelicans were an elite team with Zion Williamson healthy last season, but the struggle has been keeping him there. Switching to Siakam lessens that concern, and the swap leaves New Orleans with the assets to make another massive splash before the trade deadline.
Masai Ujiri puts an extremely high value on his players, so the Raptors may not bite on this deal, despite it improving both teams’ chances of contending. It remains an interesting idea for both sides that the teams could explore before training camp kicks off.