Pascal Siakam, F, Toronto Raptors
Height/Weight: 6-foot-10, 227 pounds
From: New Mexico State
Age: 22
The Raptors ventured out to the Rocky Mountain region for both of their first-round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft. After selecting Utah center Jakob Poeltl with the ninth overall pick, Siakam went 27th overall to Toronto, capping a surprising ascent up the draft board for the 6-foot-10 power forward.
Following his sophomore season at New Mexico State, Siakam had waited up until shortly before the withdrawal deadline to keep his name in the draft, and the decision paid off, as he was able to push his way into the first round. Siakam turned in impressive averages of 20.4 points (on 53.6% shooting from the field), 11.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game last season, though as a small-school product, the big man’s numbers carry the stigma of mostly coming against low-level competition.
The power forward’s stock didn’t really begin to take off until he shined during the measurements portion of the NBA Combine. Siakam checked in with a huge 7-foot-3.25 wingspan, and that coupled with the non-stop hustle he displayed in workouts and games would seemingly make him a good candidate to serve as a rotational big man at the next level. In order for that to happen, though, Siakam will probably need to add some weight. At 227 pounds, he lacks the heft to regularly get position and bang with NBA big men. While Siakam’s physical advantages worked for him against shorter players in college, he could have trouble exerting his will in the NBA, particularly on the offensive end. Additionally, at 22 years old, he’s an older prospect compared to most underclassmen who enter the draft, seemingly leaving less room for growth both physically and as a player.
It seems clear that both of the Raptors’ picks were in response to the likely prospect of losing Bismack Biyombo in free agency this summer. While Poeltl is the top candidate to replace Biyombo as the backup center to Jonas Valanciunas, Siakam might actually be the better analog to Biyombo. Both Biyombo and Siakam are high-energy types with long arms and limited offensive capabilities, though Biyombo’s rebounding skills appear to be well ahead of where Siakam’s currently stand. It may take a couple of years, but the Raptors are banking on Siakam making up that difference in time.
Prospect Analysis
Strengths
Motor
Mobile
Length
Excellent rebounder
Scores in the paint
Has developed consistent midrange jump shot
Quicker than average bigs
Willing to work to improve
Good shot blocker
Weaknesses
Has to continue to get stronger
Needs to be able to switch on ball screens and guard perimeter players
Played week schedule in conference play, so are numbers inflated?
NBA projection: Siakam declared for the draft but chose not to sign with an agent, giving him the option of returning to school if, after competing in the Chicago Combine, he doesn’t like his Draft stock.
2015-16 Season
Siakam was chosen the Western Athletic Conference player of the year and earned a spot on the Lou Henson Award All-America team after a strong season in which he scored 690 points, second in school history, and grabbed 396 rebounds, third most all time. His 76 blocked shots were also the third most in program history. Siakam earned WAC player of the week honors a record five times.
