This Nuggets-Raptors Trade Features Pascal Siakam
Teams are constructed in all sorts of previously unseen ways. The league has gotten more experimental. Strategies and rosters that would have once been unthinkable now exist.
For example, you can’t run your offense through an unathletic point center, no matter how elite his vision is, right? Don’t tell that to Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
Furthermore, there’s a limit to how many wings you can play at once, isn’t there? Perhaps
Pascal Siakam preparing to accept $47M per year from Pacers
What will OG Anunoby demand?
The first of the big offseason deals was revealed today. Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN, has reported that “All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam intends to sign a new four-year, $189.5 million maximum contract to return to the Indiana Pacers. Siakam plans to sign deal once league’s free agency moratorium ends on July 6.”
ESPN Sources: All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam intends to sign a new four-year, $189.5 million maximum contract to return to the Indiana Pacers. Siakam plans to sign deal once league’s free agency moratorium ends on July 6. pic.twitter.com/Klz10dQv9a
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2024
That works out to be about $47 million per year. This is relevant as the Knicks try to secure their free agent OG Anunoby to a new contract.
In our estimation, OG is at least as valuable a player as Siakam, and Anunoby’s presence clearly improved the Knicks when he played. The operative term is when he played. Injuries, which have dotted Anunoby’s bio over the years, sidelined him for long stretches after being traded to New York at the start of the calendar year. A strained hamstring kept him out of important playoff games this postseason and contributed to the lowly Indiana Pacers advancing to the Conference Finals.
On the HoopsHype podcast, which we covered here, Michael Scotto reported that the negotiations will start at $35 million. “Two general managers told me they’d pay Anunoby $35 million annually and that a max would be tough because of his injury history.”
Anunoby’s market value will be heavily influenced by competing offers from other franchises. Teams like the Philadelphia 76ers have enough cap space to force the Knicks into juicing their offer by making a lucrative bid for Anunoby. Despite the injury concerns, with multiple teams interested in the versatile wing a bidding war could drive his price all the way up to five years for $240M (or $48M/yr). Ka-Ching!
There will be much more to come before OG finally accepts a deal. Stay tuned. Go Knicks.
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