No eyebrows were raised when the Raptors opted to extend Pascal Siakam’s rookie contract for another four years. Even though it came with a nine-figure paycheck, the decision was a no-brainer in light of his importance to the cause. And nothing less than the maximum figure was in the offing for him. Ben Simmons and Jamal Murray, also from the 2016 draft class, received the same despite being relatively less crucial to the competitiveness of the Sixers and Nuggets, respectively, thus setting the stage for his windfall.
Indeed, Siakam’s value to the Raptors has never been higher. With Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard bolting for the Clippers, he stands as the cornerstone on which Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri aims to build. Admittedly, there’s no other choice; the rest of the roster is either getting ahead in age or lacking the skill set to lead. At the same time, he’s a proven commodity with yet another gear to get to; not for nothing is he the reigning Most Improved Player who took the league by storm through the 2019 playoffs — and, in particular, ran roughshod over the Warriors — en route to the championship.
Parenthetically, the affirmation of Siakam’s status as the Raptors’ first among equals figures to shape the way they assess their 2019-20 campaign. He has become untouchable, needless to say, but those around him can and will be trade bait under the right circumstances. Certainly, All-Star Kyle Lowry and former Defensive Player of the Year Marc Gasol portray as attractive pieces for would-be title contenders. That said, Ujiri may well consider staying put should they start strong with their newly minted foundation.
Make no mistake. The Raptors got considerably weaker following Leonard’s departure. Then again, they’re in the so-called Leastern Conference, where only the Sixers, Bucks, and — when viewed through rose-colored lenses — Celtics can be deemed above the fray. Moreover, Siakam possesses tremendous upside, and his accelerated progress augurs well for them as they move to defend their championship. If they get a good start to their season, they should do just fine. If not, Ujiri will be ready and willing to face any eventuality, confident of the future with his $130-million signee at the forefront.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
