The Toronto Raptors are falling apart as the season moves on. They traded away OG Anunoby for R.J. Barrett and Immanuel Quickley while letting Fred Van Fleet leave in the offseason. All while missing out on recouping big returns on key players. The Raptors are in a weird place right now and are clearly rebuilding.
That means that one of their key players, Pascal Siakam, is likely to be traded this year. The only problem is that Siakam wants to test free agency, at least that's what the rumors tell us. If Siakam wants to test free agent, no one is really going to give up much to get him. So the offers won't be as rich as they would've been a year or two ago.
Meaning that the Raptors may be incentivized to get whatever they can for him. This is where the Utah Jazz may get lucky, as not only are they seeking their 20th win, but they're potentially looking to make moves to bolster the team as well. One of the key spots on their team that they are in need of upgrading is their power-forward spot. While a lot of people are hyped about Taylor Hendricks, most NBA lottery picks fail. It'd be wise to land an established star at the position if you could.
And the Jazz could be using the Raptors game to gauge the impact Siakam could have with the Jazz. He'd fit in relatively well with Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton, as he has a different style of offensive game than both and is more dynamic on defense, potentially pairing him nicely with Walker Kessler and Kris Dunn.
With Chris Haynes reporting that a trade could be imminent, this may be the Jazz's best look at Siakam for the rest of the season. The team would be foolish not to consider trading for him, especially if the return would need to include John Collins.