(01-08-2024, 01:31 PM)F Gump Wrote: Part of whether or not the price is too high, is the issue of what you are getting. My belief is that "he won't extend (iow he's a half-season rental)" creates "he's not worth what TOR wants." There's also a report that SAC lost interest in trading for PS because they didn't have any interest in PS's expectation of a max contract in the summer. That info is revealing.
PS's contract demands and expectations are going to be significant factors in his value. It will be an interesting road ahead if PS digs in his heels on the no-extension stance and if his market value for a contract is less than he thinks it should be..
Siakam wanting a max deal is well known rumor since the summer. That he doesn't want to sign an extension is also well know. Obviously, this reduces any team willingness to pay for him. I am sort of surprised Sacramento "discovered" that just now. I think Toronto wanting Murray was actually more of a deal breaker. Or perhaps the other way around - Sacramento would consider trading Murray if Siakam would sign extension and reduce his salary expectations. Sacramento is in a good place salary wise. Even if Siakam gets his max deal (is that 42 mil?), their top three guys would be paid 117 mil, which is less than top 3 guys in Boston, Milwaukee or Denver will get next season. Sacramento is projected at 150 mil for next season and outgoing salaries of Barnes, Mitchel and Huerter are basically same money Siakam would get. This would be leaving Sacramento a lot of space below second apron to resign Monk and fill rest of the roster with vet min deals.
I think Toronto is also not willing to just trade Siakam for a bunch of bad contracts and meh pick(s). They might just keep him and try to resign him in the summer, or try to work out a SnT in the summer - they will likely get same crappy return of a couple of bad contracts and meh pick(s). That is why I believe a lot of teams are asking about Siakam, but none of them is willing to make a great offer. The chance for for a big return was probably wasted last TDL.
Since Siakam doesn't seem to be in a hurry to be traded, I think the most likely scenario is, that he stays with Toronto until the summer.
Edit: I believe Siakam will get a max deal in the summer