Raptors exercise contract options on Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby

On the heels of the greatest start to a season in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors have exercised the contract options on two of the team’s budding stars.

The Raptors announced a pair of contract extensions on Wednesday, picking up the third-year team option on forward OG Anunoby’s rookie contract, as well as the fourth-year team option on forward Pascal Siakam’s rookie deal.

Anunoby, who was taken with the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, has averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in five games this season. The former Indiana star has played a big role in coach Nick Nurse’s fluid rotation, mixing in and out of the starting lineup at the power forward position. He started 62 games for the club last season.

Anunoby missed his third-straight game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night due to personal reasons.

Siakam, selected 27th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, has flourished in this young season, averaging 10.9 points and 7.0 rebounds in eight games (seven starts). The Cameroon native followed up a career-high 22 points Monday against the Milwaukee Bucks with a career-high 15 rebounds the next night against the 76ers.

The two young forwards have been sharing starts at the power forward position since Serge Ibaka was shifted over to a full-time role at centre, proving to be invaluable assets in Nurse’s versatile rotation.

There was never any doubt as to whether the Raptors would exercise these two options as both Anunoby and Siakam have played critical roles in the team’s hot start to the season. And seeing as both players are still developing at a fine pace, exercising these two rookie contracts was simply a no-brainer.

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