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The Golden State Warriors have some leverage when trading for stars

By Nathan Beighle

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a shot on James Wiseman #33 of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 10, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 10: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a shot on James Wiseman #33 of the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 10, 2021 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors are among the several teams that may look to trade for Pascal Siakam. Especially after the Toronto Raptors took Scottie Barnes instead of Jalen Suggs at No. 4, it’s clear the intentions of the league’s only Canadian franchise.

Trading Siakam makes sense as they’ll be looking to build their roster around Barnes and OG Anunoby along with players like Chris Boucher. But, there’s no denying the Raptors aren’t going to be taking anything less than a true blockbuster proposal.

The Golden State Warriors are one of few teams in which a trade for Pascal Siakam makes sense, and they’ll have some leverage if they want to pursue that.

The Warriors can take advantage of that as they have the chips to trade.

Any trade is going to have to start on the Warriors side with small forward Andrew Wiggins. Following a breakout season in terms of efficiency, Wiggins has found a home in the Bay Area and should be thought of as more of an asset and less of a contractual throw-in.

Given that he’s the only high-value salary that the Warriors would consider trading, Wiggins would immediately be gone.

However, it’s what follows Wiggins that’s important. The Warriors have numerous future draft picks, an ultra-young small forward in Jonathan Kuminga, a recently-drafted lottery pick in Moses Moody and a 7-footer entering his second year in James Wiseman.

No team can match their versatility in offers, and many teams shouldn’t have the same interest as Golden State, a franchise looking to immediately become a title contender.

What the Toronto Raptors would require for Siakam is not known, but given the value the Philadelphia 76ers placed on point guard Ben Simmons, Toronto should be prepared to not have that lofty price met.

There’s no reason they should get much more than Wiggins and a first-round pick, especially after adding several forwards like veteran Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. in free agency.

That said, the leverage part comes in with both the fact that the Warriors can down any offer and still be a title contender and the fact that they have multiple assets that should intrigue the Raptors.

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Golden State has everything primed for them to trade for Siakam, but at the same time, they can play hardball in negotiations knowing that adding Siakam may not get them that much closer to title contention.

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