The two timeline approach of the Warriors failed pretty spectacularly, with Wiseman (who they took over Lamelo) being salary dumped, Poole getting punched by Draymond then shipped out, Kuminga (who they took over Franz) coming along slowly, and Moody (who they took over Sengun) having trouble getting minutes at all. Kuminga still has some potential, out of the group, and they seem to have secured a nice find in Pod, but the reality is that they just don't have a future core worth getting excited about, and, while Steph is still amazing, Klay is starting to show his age, and Dray can't seem to stop punching people.

The Warriors are at that stage where they have to push their chips into the middle. They have a franchise icon, in Steph Curry, who is still a legitimate championship level #1. They need to get the man some help, and the only pieces with the value to acquire that are their young guys and future draft capital.

Toronto may or may not move Pascal Siakam. Siakam wants to be in Toronto, and has said he would sign the full four year max, if offered. I'm not sure why it hasn't been offered, but Siakam's desire to stay means the Raps can hold out for a worthy package, and can extend him if one does not materialize.

Siakam has been excellent this year, and has been killing it in the last month or so. Notably, his shooting slump has dissipated, and he is shooting 45.5% from three in his last 14 games, with a 26/6/5 stat line. Overall, he is also having his most efficient scoring season since the title year, albeit with more volume and a much more rounded game than he had back then (particularly with the playmaking skills and midrange game he developed over the years).

All that being said, Siakam's best scoring talents are in his driving game and post game, and his numbers in Toronto, in recent years, have come in the context of a team with zero spacing. Enter Steph Curry.

NBA history is full of dominant inside-outside combos, from Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside (Jerry West and Elgin Baylor), to Stockton/Malone, Shaq/Kobe, and now Giannis/Dame. Those sorts of combos tend to be highly complimentary, as the outside player opens up space for the inside one, and the inside one draws defenders off the perimeter, in turn.

Siakam is, by far, the best available player and fit that the Warriors could put next to Steph, and the Warriors need to make a move now if they are going to salvage their season (especially after Chris Paul's hand fracture last night). This is a move that not only salvages their future, but gives Steph a legit running-mate for the next several seasons (assuming, of course, that Siakam's reps indicate to GSW that he will be open to re-signing). If the Warriors can get Klay to buy-into a more limited role and a smaller new contract, this is the sort of move that could legitimately re-open their title window for as long as Steph remains Steph.

Steph/Klay/Wiggins/Siakam/Dray is potentially an amazing two-way group, especially if Wiggins can get his shot back. The Warriors even have a decent bench left with Looney, Moody, Sariv, GP2 and Trayve Jackson-Davis.

For the Raptors, if they are going to trade Pascal, the main piece back has to be a forward, since, when combined with the OG trade, a once-stacked frontcourt is pretty thin nowadays once you get past Scottie. Kuminga isn't a perfect fit, largely due to his sub-par shooting, but he does check the box of the sort of athletic talent Masai loves. He also is the sort of talented player who screams "change of scenery". Pod helps provide the Raps with some shooting and backcourt depth behind IQ and RJ. The package is complimented with some potentially high-value future draft capital that could come after Steph has declined. Overall, it ticks Toronto's boxes, and, while Chris Paul is now just an empty contract, after the injury, his expiring deal will clear a lot of money off the Raptors' books, to provide some cap flexibility.

So, overall, who says no?