What the Orlando Magic could offer Raptors for Pascal Siakam

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Before we hit the dog days of summer, we’ll conclude our series looking into what perspective suitors could offer the Raptors in a trade for Pascal Siakam.

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We’ve covered Indiana and Atlanta, but what about the Orlando Magic, another team that’s been bandied about as potentially having some interest, should the Raptors look to deal the All-NBA forward. This trade partner isn’t the best one for the Raptors, but it’s not impossible to find something somewhat realistic.

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Orlando is run by Jeff Weltman, who was second in command of the Raptors when the team drafted Siakam in 2016. Orlando covets long, athletic, skilled big men like Siakam, and though he wouldn’t be a perfect fit there, Siakam, reigning rookie of the year Paolo Banchero and solid third-year swingman Franz Wagner are all versatile enough that they could work as a front-court.

Orlando isn’t moving Banchero, and Wagner, a player Toronto had eyes for before moving up in the lottery, allowing them to draft Scottie Barnes, probably isn’t gettable either. Let’s also assume here that Toronto wouldn’t want Wendell Carter III because Jakob Poeltl is already in place and Orlando might also value him too highly without an in-place replacement.

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Orlando has a surplus of point guards, especially since Anthony Black was just drafted sixth overall. Would Jalen Suggs, taken a pick after Barnes at five in 2021 interest the Raptors even though he hasn’t shown much in the NBA yet? He’s close with Barnes and was highly touted heading into the draft. Starting point guard Markelle Fultz could be another option, though he’s just a year out from unrestricted free agency. If Suggs was included and not Fultz, than Jonathan Isaac would likely have to be a part of a deal too in order to match salaries since Siakam is due $37.8 million in the final year of his deal. Gary Harris, also a pending veteran free agent would also help the math work. Orlando could also deal point guard Cole Anthony. Isaac could be a worthwhile gamble, despite his lengthy injury history, because he’d either reestablish himself as a valuable player, if he could stay on the court, or, because he’s missed so much time, the final year of his deal in 2024-25 is fully unguaranteed. With expensive new deals on the horizon for O.G. Anunoby and Barnes, that could be valuable.

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The Magic’s prospect cabinet is pretty sparse. Guard Jett Howard was a surprising selection at 10, but can’t be traded until July 31. Orlando is actually the only team in the entire NBA that doesn’t currently owe any future first or second round draft picks. That means the team could offer a host of draft picks, along with either Suggs or Fultz and the cap filler to make a deal work. In addition to all of its own picks, Orlando is owed a 2025 first from Denver, meaning it could deal three first round picks in a row if it wanted to, or consecutive firsts in 2024 and 2025 or in 2025 and 2026 (normally consecutive firsts cannot be dealt, but that can be worked around if a team has an extra pick from another team. As long as they make a first-round pick that year they are good). The Magic also boast as many as seven extra second round picks from now through 2028.

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This corner would still hang on to Siakam, if he would sign an extension with Toronto, but if not, a potential Orlando offer of something like the following could make sense:

Suggs, Anthony, Isaac, Harris, 2024 and 2025 Orlando first round picks and 2026 second rounder from Detroit for Siakam and Thaddeus Young.

Again, it’s not the most exciting package, but it could fill the hole at point guard Fred VanVleet’s departure created and bring in future draft capital.

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