The Golden State Warriors didn’t get the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade update they were hoping for on Monday.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel informed the public that Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are at the top of the two-time MVP’s trade list. While a deal may require multiple teams to get involved, it’s unsettling for the Warriors that Antetokounmpo is more interested in joining the franchise that eliminated them in last season’s Western Conference Semifinals.
Luckily for the Dubs, Siegel has identified an emergency trade target for the franchise if Antetokounmpo doesn’t become a Warrior.
“Keep an eye on what’s happening in Indiana (Pacers),” Siegel said on his ClutchScoops show Tuesday. “And one of the names that keeps being mentioned in circles in connection with the Warriors is somebody that they targeted in the past, Pascal Siakam. That’s a situation that I would just keep an eye on for the Warriors.”
Siakam was a part of the 2019 Toronto Raptors squad that defeated the Warriors in the NBA Finals. While Kawhi Leonard was the star of the show, Siakam’s ability to take advantage of mismatches, make timely shots, and serve as a defensive disruptor played an integral role in Toronto’s upset victory.
Fast forward to the present, and Siakam is one of the most underrated stars in the league. The New Mexico State product guided the Indiana Pacers to the final round of the postseason.
Many believe he would have been crowned Finals MVP if the organization had beaten the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Oklahoma City Thunder (he averaged 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in the series, shooting 45.4% from the field and 35.7% from three).
Without Tyrese Haliburton out of the Pacers’ lineup this year (he suffered an Achilles injury last June), the Pacers’ championship hopes are virtually non-existent. Still, Siakam continues to prove his worth with the franchise, contributing 23.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 34.4% from beyond the arc.
Siakam’s battle-tested resume and elite two-way capabilities would make him a wise option for the Warriors to consider. Golden State wouldn’t become title favorites with Siakam, but there’s no question it would be highly competitive until the very end.
Siegel’s report should give the Warriors hope after the less-than-ideal Antetokounmpo trade news.
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