Pascal Siakam doesn’t need to be traded, it’s “last item on his thoughts,” agent says

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Commerce rumors flew round about Pascal Siakam this offseason. The Kings reportedly had been . The Warriors had been talked about, as was Siakam as a part of a Ben Simmons commerce.

None of that is what Siakam himself desires.

“That’s the very last thing on his thoughts…” his agent, Todd Ramasar, instructed NBC Sports activities. “He loves it there. Sure. He received a championship… That’s by no means come from us that there’s a change…

“Due to the pandemic, as a result of the Raptors missed the playoffs, there’s been a whole lot of hypothesis round [about a trade], nevertheless it’s not due to Pascal or something he’s mentioned. And even the group. I believe that’s simply the chatter that picks up going into an offseason.”

The Raptors instructed Siakam they don’t seem to be trying to commerce him. There have been groups that referred to as to verify on Siakam’s availability, league sources have instructed NBC Sports activities. A part of the explanation different groups examined these waters was Siakam is coming off a down season — one that also noticed him rating 21.4 factors and seize 7.2 rebounds a sport, however a season the place his effectivity dipped from the All-NBA ranges of a season earlier than. Different GMs are at all times trying to swoop in and attempt to choose off high expertise at a discount worth, and when the Raptors drafted Scottie Barnes — who performs an analogous place to Siakam — different groups made calls.

There have been causes for Siakam’s struggles. He and the Raptors performed the complete season on the street with their “house” video games in Tampa Bay. Then he — and a bunch of the Raptors — got here down with COVID-19 throughout the season. Later, late within the season, he injured his shoulder operating right into a display screen, which finally required surgical procedure.

Siakam is placing within the work on his rehab and Ramasar mentioned he expects to see a bounce again to Siakam’s All-NBA ranges. A part of that’s Ramasar working to verify these commerce rumors are out of his thoughts.

“Initially, it’s about understanding when it’s purely hypothesis versus there being some substance to that, proper? Is there traction to these rumors?” Ramasar mentioned of how he walked Siakam by his first time on the commerce rumor carousel. “It begins with having good communication and a fantastic relationship with the crew and administration, and communication. And it’s understanding that, as a result of this can be a enterprise, at any level you could be traded…

“However on this state of affairs, realizing that it was extra so hypothesis than the rest, it’s having these conversations with the consumer. It’s additionally the crew reassuring the participant, on this case Pascal, and then you definately transfer ahead and keep accountable for the issues you’ve management over.”

The opposite factor Ramasar instructed Siakam — in the event you and the Raptors are successful, the rumors fade.

“Successful is a cure-all,” he mentioned. “Should you’re successful, no person is speaking about commerce rumors, whether or not they’re reality or fiction. So proceed to work in your sport, assist your crew win, and every thing takes care of itself.”

To listen to extra of Ramasar speaking about Siakam — in addition to the No. 12 choose Joshua Primo, Thomas Bryant of the Wizards, and extra — try the PBT Podcast, the place we dive into all these matters.

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Pascal Siakam doesn’t need to be traded, it’s “last item on his thoughts,” agent says initially appeared on NBCSports.com

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