I have been away from Fanspo for the past few days as real life has kept me quite busy, and I was hoping to come back to normal Atto being back and the end of all the turmoil on the site. I didn’t get those wishes, but I did return to something I did not expect: a non-Chicago player atop the trending players list. Pascal Siakam trades are currently topping the charts and since I visited New York today and walked past Madison Square Garden, I decided to make a Siakam trade to the Big Apple.

NOTE: This trade does indeed show up as a failed trade. However, it becomes legal within a week from the time of posting, so I’m not worried about it. As of Friday, this trade will be successful.

Why the Knicks do this:

The Knicks are a very good team that has the opportunity to become great, and this deal sets them one step closer to being a true contender in the East. They acquire a more consistent secondary All-Star who plays defense and has championship history in Pascal Siakam, a massive upgrade from the outgoing Randle. They also retain key assets (think RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, the Fournier contract, and picks) to swing for a third star like Paul George in a deal similar in nature to Waynoepotato’s recent proposal. This move indicates a setup for a much larger swing at the trade deadline and shows the front office’s intent to contend soon.

Why the Raptors do this:

The Raptors move on from their superstar in Pascal Siakam and acquire a very solid haul. Former 4th overall pick Patrick Williams headlines the package, which also comes with the gamble that is Lonzo Ball, a solid role player in Donte DiVincenzo, and three protected first round picks. Toronto has no need for Julius Randle from the Knicks in their rebuild, which is why he is immediately flipped to Chicago, the method of getting the additional assets to Canada.

Why the Bulls do this:

The Bulls swing another desperate move to attempt to resurrect the hopes of their current core to make a playoff run in acquiring Julius Randle. They acquire him on solid value, giving up only Patrick Williams, a protected first round pick, and the injured Lonzo Ball. They bet on the issue with Julius Randle being a need for a change in scenery and they also bet that star power alone can get them to the playoffs this season. If this change does not work out for Chicago, they retain the assets to rebuild, keeping most of their own future picks under team control. The Bulls also acquire another one of their former role players in Otto Porter Jr.

What do you think of this multi-star deal? Who says no, and why? I look forward to seeing your opinions in the comments!