Gauging impact of Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam extensions for Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors made a huge splash just days before the start of the 2019-20 season, locking up Pascal Siakam for the long haul.

The Toronto Raptors weren’t content with closing the deal on one major contract extension this preseason. They decided to go back to the boardroom one more time before the 2019-20 victory tour kicked off, this time with their most important long-term play.

Toronto agreed to a major contract extension with budding star Pascal Siakam on Saturday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal promises Siakam will be the now and future star of the Raptors as they move forward following the first championship in franchise history.

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The impact of Siakam’s signing from a bookkeeping standpoint is reasonable for Toronto’s front office. With a max contract doled out to Siakam, the likelihood of the Raptors being free agency players in the summer of 2020 dwindles. Most of the coming summer’s free agency class is underwhelming, though, so that ultimately shouldn’t be a big deal.

Meanwhile, it keeps Toronto’s books in line with participating in 2021’s free agency, when superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could be the big prize. In fact, they may have saved themselves from paying the “super max” by getting the deal done before the year, as Siakam’s performance in 2019-20 could’ve triggered the need for a larger deal.

Additionally, the deal doesn’t include any options for either side. So when the extension kicks in for the 2020-21 season, it guarantees Siakam will still be around through the 2023-24 season, likely covering the forward’s prime years.

What these extensions — Kyle Lowry‘s and Siakam’s — don’t put into writing, however, is the cultural impact of getting the deals done before the start of the season.

In locking up Lowry with a lucrative one-year extension, the Raptors rewarded a player whose jersey should one day hang from the Scotiabank Arena rafters. He isn’t the most individually impressive player in franchise history — he’s no Vince Carter, no Chris Bosh, no Kawhi Leonard.

But he embraced the city of Toronto and it embraced him back, making Lowry a legendary player for all time.

In locking up Siakam through 2023-24, the Raptors have ensured a building block for the future. Siakam emerged in a major way last year, albeit as the Robin to Leonard’s Batman. But Masai Ujiri and the front office believe last year’s ascendance was just the beginning of a rise towards even more greatness. Toronto wasn’t going to risk letting that slip in restricted free agency.

In a business that lacks sentimentality, the extensions are also an acknowledgement of a proper way to do business. Signing Lowry and Siakam to these deals doesn’t guarantee future riches from NBA free agents who see something beyond salary cap maneuvers in Toronto’s business dealings.

But it demonstrates to players — and fans — that the franchise appreciates the players who put their all into the game and their all into the city.

Toronto’s unlikely quest to defend their title began in earnest on Tuesday evening. Their mission to create a sustainable culture of excellence began well before tip off.