(01-08-2024, 02:58 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: Seems like Siakam is taking one of two possible angles:
1. His list of acceptable teams is really, really short. Like maybe just one or two. But he’s not stating his preference for PR reasons?? Or something else?
2. He’s trying to drive his current trade value down in order to retain assets of the acquiring team. Wouldn’t you rather play on a team with several serviceable players, instead of a team that was gutted in order to trade for you?
Both options are possible, although I think option 2 is basically a consequence of option 1. As to option 1 - a smart person always leaves a bit of an door open, even if he has a prefered scenario. This is how you keep your leverage. So not promising you will resign for certain if you don't really mean it, but also not saying, there is only one option you want to happen.
There are rumors that he wants to be in Philly (who has max cap space in the summer) and Philly is not eager to break a bank for a guy they can just sign in the summer. But Siakam might prefer to leave his options a bit open, just in case there is a change of temperature in Philly for whatever reason and they decide to offer less than max. Harden might have a thing or two to say about that.
Edit: official Siakam statement for the summer is, he wants to have all options opened. Some (many?) read that as "I want to be in Philly". That is why no one will offer a fortune and that is also why someone might offer a good enough package in hope he will resign with them afterall. Siakam himself looks to be comfortable waiting till summer to lock his final destination.