Rival's move could accelerate blockbuster Golden State Warriors trade

The Toronto Raptors finally moved on one of their two-way forwards on Saturday, with the franchise reportedly trading O.G Anunoby to the New York Knicks for a package including Canadian R.J. Barrett and young guard Immanuel Quickley.

The Anunoby deal does remove a potential trade option for the Golden State Warriors, having been linked to the 26-year-old since prior to last season's deadline. However, while Anunoby is no longer available, the deal could accelerate another potential trade for Golden State.

With O.G. Anunoby headed to the New York Knicks, could the Golden State Warriors be in the frame to acquire Pascal Siakam?

With the Anunoby move coming surprisingly weeks before the trade deadline, fans are now eagerly anticipating a deal for Pascal Siakam. The two-time All-Star is another whom the Warriors have been linked to, particularly this season as the franchise continues to struggle simply to enter the playoff picture.

A Siakam trade is expected to follow according to Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, with the 29-year-old part of a Toronto team that lost in Detroit on Saturday, ending the Pistons 28-game losing streak.

""League personnel are certainly prepared for a Siakam trade to follow suit. Before this weekend’s deal, Siakam was the Toronto veteran whom rival executives were pegging as the most likely Raptor to be dealt, particularly after the team nearly sent Siakam to the Atlanta Hawks this summer, league sources told Yahoo Sports.""

- Jake Fischer

Siakam's possible value will now be a source of speculation, particularly after a price has been set for Anunoby. The 2019 NBA champion was an All-Star in 2023, but his numbers are down this season including having shot just 25% from three-point range.

On the final year of his contract making $37.8 million, Siakam will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. That complicates matter further, with Golden State needing to send at least one of Andrew Wiggins or Chris Paul to Toronto to make it work.

The Raptors would also ask for a mix of the Warrior younger players and/or picks. The futures of third-year lottery picks Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody will continue to draw conjecture, while Toronto could also hold interest in impressive rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis.

The potential of an accelerated timeline on Siakam could work in the Warriors favor -- the last thing they want to do is let their current play draw out to the trade deadline, by which time they may be too far back to do any major damage in the Western Conference.