With doubts swirling over Al Horford’s ability to log heavy minutes night after night, the Golden State Warriors are quietly kicking the tires on a bold contingency plan: targeting Pascal Siakam, the Toronto Raptors’ 35.25-million-dollar pivot who can slide into the frontcourt with authority.
Sources tell us that Golden State brass has long admired Siakam’s unique blend of rim-running, pick-and-roll IQ and stretch-five shooting touch. At 6’9″ and 230 pounds, the two-time All-Star offers the Warriors exactly the type of versatile interior presence they crave—someone who can bully smaller defenders in the paint, patrol the glass and even step out to knock down midrange jumpers or occasional triples.
The proposal on the table would send Andrew Wiggins’ expiring contract plus a 2026 first-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder north of the border in exchange for Siakam’s mammoth salary. Golden State hopes that swapping Wiggins’ $30.6 million cap hit for Siakam’s $35.25 million deal (and tacking on minor sweeteners) will satisfy Toronto’s front office, which is intensely focused on adding backcourt shooting while shedding luxury-tax burden.
For the Warriors, Siakam represents more than just insurance. If the 37-year-old Horford struggles to handle playoff minutes or gets hampered by nagging injuries, Golden State would still possess a dynamic big man capable of anchoring a zone defense, rolling decisively in pick-and-rolls or spacing the floor on offense. His two-way pedigree also meshes seamlessly with Steve Kerr’s motion-heavy system, giving Golden State the flexibility to stagger lineups—mixing elite shooters like Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson around a big who can guard 1–4 and thrust off the bounce.
League insiders caution that Toronto might balk at parting with its cornerstone, but the salary-dump appeal and Warriors’ championship culture could pique enough interest to get the ball rolling. Should the deal materialize, it would mark one of the season’s most surprising Western Conference shakeups—and put Golden State in prime position to reload around their veteran core without sacrificing long-term financial flexibility.
Keep your eyes peeled: if this rumor heats up, the Warriors’ bench frontcourt could look very different by the February trade deadline—and their championship window would gain a potent new weapon.
