The 76ers need to make a move for Pascal Siakam if he is available.
It’s really that simple. With several teams across the league reportedly being interested in the Cameroonian forward, the 76ers should do everything they reasonably can to bring him to Philadelphia.
We already know it would be a short-term rental situation. Siakam himself has made it clear that he wants to test free agency. That’s fine. The Raptors organization he currently plays for showed how this situation can work in the past with Kawhi Leonard. Chances like this have to be taken when a team is in the situation that Philly is in.
76ers Need to Make a Move for Pascal Siakam
Why should the Sixers go all in?
The window is now. Maybe we didn’t think it would be. Maybe that’s a weird concept for some people considering how this past off-season played out. The James Harden situation, among other moves, did not feel like the first steps towards winning a title—the first title since 1983, back when phones had cords and doctors recommended menthol cigarettes for a cough. No, it certainly did not feel like Philadelphia was headed for a contending season.
Yet here we are. This team had an absurd December. Joel Embiid is on track for his best season ever and a repeat MVP award. Tyrese Maxey has gone from bright young role player to bonafide co-star. The overall team depth is better than it has been since “The Process” started, and they have shown that in the games that Embiid has been out. To run the gauntlet of the Eastern Conference playoffs though, they’ll need another star that they can lean on in big moments. Siakam can be that player.
Let the professionals figure it out
Will the front court be a little crowded with two big men who like to play with the ball? Possibly. Would Embiid be willing to make some sacrifices in order to cement his legacy as the greatest 76er ever by winning a title? He better. It’s obvious how much he wants to win with this franchise. It’s also obvious how much he trusts Nick Nurse as a coach. And you know what? The fans should too. Give the man the best possible chance to win and let him do what he is payed to do. Let him figure out how to get the ball to the right player at the right time.
Siakam showed why he could be a game-changer in a recent game against Cleveland. He scored 36 points and put in an overall dominant display offensively. It was the kind of performance that the Sixers might need at some point down the line. To have another player capable of taking over a game besides Embid and Maxey would be huge. It might be the difference between another second round exit and a party down Broad Street.
A trade for Siakam is a gamble, but not necessarily a huge one.
The Raptors are re-tooling their squad, and Siakam will most likely be available for much less than maybe some people realize. He does not want to stay long and the Sixers don’t need him to.
Embiid will get hurt at some point, or at best need a break. As of right now, the 76ers are doing a solid job of staying competitive when this happens. But, is it playoff-game-winning competitive? What if it comes down to a game 5 in Boston and Embiid can’t go more than 30 minutes because of knee soreness? This is why the 76ers need to make a move for Pascal Siakam if he is available. Imagine how much better Sixers fans will feel with Maxey and Siakam running the show rather than just Maxey.
