Eras of Toronto Basketball:
Vince Carter 1998-2005
Chris Bosh 2004-2010
Demar Derozan/Klow 2010-2018
Kawhi 2019
Siakam 2020-2023

Scottie Barnes 2023

What we’re witnessing is the awkward transition from one era to the next…No King wants to submit and give up the crown, Siakam has a job to do, he’s got a chip on his shoulder, and he probably feels Scottie Barnes breathing down his neck

Siakam was never really the chosen one, he kind of fell into the role of being the Star player and embraced it but along the way, he took more criticism and heat for this team’s success than any other Raptors in history other than maybe Demar…but everyone loved Demar, no one really turned on Demar like they have on Siakam

Scottie is the chosen one, he’s the future, when you’re drafted 4th overall the expectation is that you’re going to be special and that you’re going to be “the guy”…the fans want to see him succeed, he sells the tickets, he sells the jerseys, and ownership, along with the front office will do everything in their power to prop him up and make him successful

Siakam’s is on borrowed time unfortunately and IMO if there was a better trade on the table he would already be gone

I personally love Siakam but let’s not kid ourselves here…this is Scottie’s team now, and I don’t see Siakam conceding to Scottie, these guys are alpha’s, they’re NBA athletes, they’re not going to just sit back and say “ya, no problem, you take the wheel” it’s going to be a silent battle this season IMO for who’s “the guy” but FO and ownership have all their chips in on Scottie so ultimately I don’t see Siakam on this team past this season unless the offers are so terrible that they’re forced to just give him the max and hope that eventually they can make a trade

If you have a differing opinion I’d love to hear it…I just don’t see a world in which Scottie and Siakam can co-exist on this team, it’s not a good fit, they’re both great players but it’s not working

In the long view it all depends on if they can either get A) Guard that fits in the age range with Scottie that’s an upgrade and/or B) Centre that spaces the floor.

If they can do so while keeping all 3 of the core pieces then you can keep the team together. If you can’t without trading one of them then it’s a tougher ask.

Pascal has shown his willingness to let Barnes lead on the floor

I’m proud of both of them for working together

You could see the high low chemistry between them during the Dallas game

Versus San Antonio Pascal was perfectly comfortable with Scottie leading dead ball huddles on the floor

It is the right way to move forward and they can definitely do this 😎💎

I think most fans will agree that Pascal will become the Pippen to Scottie’s Jordan.