This proposed trade moves Pascal Siakam to the Chicago Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls are a team that finished in the play-in tournament this season, but they are still a team that could end up being a contender with another move or two. They have talented players such as Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan on the roster, and another move could be what they need to be a competitive playoff team.
Perhaps a player that the Chicago Bulls could target is Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam. He is a borderline All-NBA player, and Siakam is a do-it-all forward that is quality on both ends of the floor. Here is a potential trade framework:
Chicago Bulls Receive: Pascal Siakam
Toronto Raptors Receive: Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, Dalen Terry, 2024 First-Round Pick (POR via CHI)
This would be a lot to give up for a player on a one-year deal, but in this scenario, the Chicago Bulls would likely receive some assurances about Siakam potentially wanting to stay with the franchise after the season. Here is why both teams should consider making this trade.
The Chicago Bulls Would Go All-In On Their Current Core
Though the Chicago Bulls did not do well in the postseason thus far, they have the makings of a solid roster right now. Two stars in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, a quality starting center in Nikola Vucevic, and solid role players such as Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond. One more move could make them one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Adding a top-tier power forward in Pascal Siakam would increase the overall talent on the Chicago Bulls roster, and allow them to be competitive once again. Siakam averaged 24.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists for the Toronto Raptors, and would give the team another focal point on the offensive side of the ball. Siakam and Zach LaVine would allow DeMar DeRozan to be the No. 3 option, which puts less pressure on the veteran to produce consistently on the offensive end of the floor. On defense, Siakam would be a good complementary player to Nikola Vucevic in the frontcourt, she can provide some rim protection and multi-positional defense.
As of right now, the Chicago Bulls are kind of stuck between two timelines, with both young players and veterans present on the roster. Making a trade for Pascal Siakam would show that they are ready to try and win a championship.
Losing Patrick Williams would be the toughest part of this deal for the Chicago Bulls, as he is their best young player who has two-way potential. Still, Pascal Siakam is a power forward who is worth giving that up for, and moving Williams to become more competitive in the now could be appealing for the team.
The Toronto Raptors Get A Good Trade Package For A Star On An Expiring Contract
As of right now, Pascal Siakam is in the last year of his contract, which makes it hard for the Toronto Raptors to get value by trading him. Still, we have seen times when teams tend to go all-in by acquiring players on expiring contracts. Perhaps this could be one of those times.
This trade package for the Toronto Raptors is headlined by Patrick Williams, who is a solid defensive prospect as of right now. He averaged 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists this season for the Chicago Bulls while shooting 41.5% from 3PT range. As of right now, he is a quality 3 and D wing player, but it is clear that Williams could blossom if given more touches and opportunity. He would get plenty of that on the Toronto Raptors.
Lonzo Ball is mostly in this trade for salary-matching purposes. It was recently revealed that Ball will miss the entire 2023-24 season, and it is unlikely that he will provide contributions to the Toronto Raptors this upcoming season. Still, he could up his value if he comes back from injuries well, and at worst, Ball’s contract can likely be traded for a team to get salary relief in a future trade.
The two future assets that the Toronto Raptors will end up with in this scenario are a first-round pick in 2024, and guard Dalen Terry. It is clear that this would be solid on top of getting Patrick Williams in the deal, and in terms of value, this is one of the best potential deals for Pascal Siakam.
This Could Be A Game-Changing Trade For The Chicago Bulls
From the Chicago Bulls’ perspective, this would be the team doubling down in their faith in this core. The team still has a lot of talent on the roster, and perhaps it is too early to give up on them right now. Pascal Siakam could make them a lot more consistent on both ends of the floor, and a versatile forward like him is the key for the Chicago Bulls to take the leap as a team. It is a relatively low-risk trade for the team, and taking a chance on him is far from the worst win-now move they could make.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors would be able to get good value in a trade from the Chicago Bulls. The options for them are likely slim, as Siakam’s contract status means no team is necessarily willing to risk giving up a premier package for the power forward. The Chicago Bulls deal is one of the best potential offers.
It remains to be seen if the Chicago Bulls and the Toronto Raptors will end up coming together on a deal with this framework. It is certainly possible, and we’ll see what ends up happening in the future.
