Pascal Siakam Wants to Stay with Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors' Pascal Siakam has been the subject of a flurry of rumors since the offseason began, sending him everywhere from Golden State to Sacramento to Philadelphia and anywhere in between. 

A new piece by Sam Amick of The Athletic makes it pretty clear that Siakam wants to stay with Toronto, and the feeling is mutual.

Pascal Siakam still wants to be in Toronto.

Masai Ujiri has recently made it clear to Siakam’s side that he’s not being shopped, sources tell @sam_amick.

More: https://t.co/O1gbKw4btR pic.twitter.com/qGy3siyb18

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 16, 2021

Sources told Amick that Pascal "still wants to be in Toronto, especially after being away for a season while playing in Tampa."

Amick says, sure, Masai Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster will listen to offers—as they would with any player at any time, but they are not actively shopping him, and they've made that clear to Siakam and his representatives. Webster even addressed the issue with the media this past week, saying "we sat with him and talked with him for a bit, and that relationship is strong. There's a level of trust both ways." 

Some labeled the Raptors' drafting of versatile forward Scottie Barnes as some kind of signal that Siakam might not be long for the organization, but the article goes on to say that for Ujiri and Co., "there’s a clear basketball vision here for how these pieces — old and new — can work."

What is true is that the Raptors will be without their 27-year-old former NBA Most Improved Player for at least the start of the upcoming season, as he continues to rehab from shoulder surgery. The timeline currently would have him missing the first couple of weeks of the season. 

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports