Well it happened. Like I mentioned yesterday, it felt like the time was coming. The Toronto Raptors finally pulled the trigger on a Pascal Siakim deal. He’s off to the Indiana Pacers for a less than thrilling haul of stuff. The 2019 championship team is gone. It’s really hard to believe.
So before I start to welcome Bruce Brown Jr. (if he isn’t traded again) and start to wonder who these first round picks can become, I want to focus on Pascal.
One of the truly wonderful stories, not only for the Raptors, but for basketball.
Way back in the early years, Pascal was known for sprinting the floor and getting long outlet passes from Kyle Lowry for easy buckets. He just ran. He was so fast. He was always smiling and having fun. But as the 27th pick, that’s kind of what I thought he was. A bench guy who will bring energy and just go hard.
But there was more. A lot more there.
He will go down as one of the Raptors greatest development stories for sure. He will be talked about with the likes of DeMar DeRozan, in terms of how hard he worked.
Now, he will be talked about as one of the best Raptors, period.
From time in the D League (or G league), to being part of the famous bench mob, to being the second best player on a championship team, Pascal was a treat to watch.
How often do you get to watch a player develop from raw talent to the best player on the team?
I remember Pascal for his game winner against the Phoenix Suns, that was his coming out party.
I remember the 50 point games.
I remember the first game of the NBA Championship where he opened the game with a sick alley oop from FVV.
He rarely complained. He rarely showed signs of being unhappy. He was a professional is every way.
Watching him mentally struggle through the pandemic and bubble was hard as a fan. He was joyless and his play showed it.
At the parade, he is what sticks out in my memory the most. Standing at the front of the bus, arms spread like he was on the front of the Titanic.
He did so much work on the community as well. Toronto will miss that part of Pascal.
His time was up in Toronto. He reached the end of his road. The Raptors did not see him as a max guy. It happens in sports. Our favourite players move on.
I wish him the best in Indiana. I will take a peak at the scores to see how he is doing. But just like all the other players who leave, I will stop keeping track unless they are returning to Scotiabank.
February 14th, I know the fans at the Bank are going to pour their hearts out for Siakim’s first game back.
It’s impossible not to like him. That smile.
The Raptors really should have an all-smile team wall somewhere. Kyle, Pascal, Scottie……as fans, we need it.
What do we think Raptors fans? Good trade? Sad to see Siakim go?
