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SOURCE SPORTS: Pascal Siakam Traded to Indiana Pacers for Bruce Brown & Picks

January 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Pascal Siakam Drops 52 Points on the Knicks at MSG

Pascal Siakam is headed to the Indiana Pacers. NBA Trade season is officially underway, and the NBA Champion will now team with Tyrese Haliburton.

The Pacers acquired Siakam from the Toronto Raptors for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks. Sources told ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski that the New Orleans Pelicans are a third team in the deal, shipping Kira Lewis to the Raptors and a second-round pick to the Pacers.

For the season, Siakam is averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists for the season. He can be a free agent this offseason, but the Pacers believe they can come to an extension.

“I’m excited that Pascal is getting a first class opportunity with the Pacers, being paired with Tyrese [Haliburton] and Myles [Turner] and being coached by a great coach in Rick Carlisle,” Siakam’s agent Todd Ramasar said to Andscape.

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Drake Reps Toronto Sports On His Incredible New Chain

October 11, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Drake is currently taking a victory lap after the release of his latest album, For All The Dogs. While the album might be getting mixed reviews right now, it is still going to sell extremely well. Furthermore, the artist just finished up his tour and he is set to take a few years off before dropping again. Overall, it has been a whirlwind time for him, and he understands that the time off is what is best for his health. It remains to be seen what Drizzy has in store for us, but no matter what, it is going to get a lot of attention.

Speaking of attention, it seems like the artist will be getting a lot of it thanks to his brand-new chain. If you were on social media last night, you probably saw this thing. Below, you can grab a good look at it, and overall, it is pretty glorious. Firstly, the main part of the pendant is the CN Tower. Subsequently, we get the Toronto Raptors logo and the Blue Jays logo hanging from the tower. Furthermore, at the back of the chain, there is a Toronto Maple Leafs logo. Unfortunately, if you are a Toronto FC or Argonauts fan, you will be disappointed.

Drake Gets A New Piece

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Drake’s fandom for Toronto sports has no boundaries. He is currently an ambassador for the Toronto Raptors and he is frequently at their games. This season, the team is looking to be exciting, especially with Gradey Dick joining the roster. We’re sure the artist will be sitting courtside at plenty of games. Since Drizzy is taking time off, he will have the free time to go do so.

Let us know your thoughts on his brand-new chain, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will always keep you informed of the biggest releases from the biggest artists.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Toronto Raptors Currently Favorites to Land Damian Lillard

September 26, 2023 by newhiphopnews

A new frontrunner has emerged as the NBA awaits a trade for Portland Trailblazers star Damian Lillard. According to ESPN, high-ranking NBA executives, the Toronto Raptors are currently the favorites to land the star.

As of Monday morning (Sept. 25), there was no deal in place for the Trailblazers and Raptors, but revealing Lillard’s preferred destination for the Miami HEAT are not engaged in any conversations. The HEAT previously offered Tyler Herro and two first-round picks as consolation for Lillard.

The Raptors are believed to be ready to offer Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, O.G. Anunoby, and their recent draftee Gradey Dick.

Additional teams attempting to make offers include the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Chicago Bulls.

Lillard is expected to be moved by Oct. 2, which is the start of training camp for many teams.

The post SOURCE SPORTS: Toronto Raptors Currently Favorites to Land Damian Lillard first appeared on The Source.

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Pascal Siakam Net Worth 2023: What Is The NBA Star Worth?

September 24, 2023 by newhiphopnews

In the world of professional basketball, few stars shine as brightly as Pascal Siakam. As of 2023, the Cameroonian NBA sensation has an estimated net worth of $30 million US dollars, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But how did Siakam amass such wealth, and what makes him stand out in the competitive world of professional basketball?

Born on April 2, 1994, in Douala, Cameroon, Pascal Siakam’s journey to NBA stardom is nothing short of inspiring. He relocated to the United States, where he honed his basketball skills at God’s Academy in Lewisville, Texas. His college basketball career at New Mexico State saw him clinch titles like the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2016 and the WAC Freshman of the Year in 2015. His prowess didn’t go unnoticed, and he was soon drafted #27 overall by the Toronto Raptors.

Achievements And Accolades In The NBA

Siakam’s NBA career has been marked by significant milestones. He played for the NBA D-League team Raptors 905 in 2017 and emerged as a D-League champion and D-League Finals MVP. His dedication and hard work bore fruit when he was named the NBA Most Improved Player in 2019. That same year, he celebrated an NBA Championship win with the Toronto Raptors. His skills and dedication to the game were further recognized in 2020 when he was named an NBA All-Star starter.

Siakam’s Lucrative Contracts And Endorsements

Financial success in the NBA doesn’t come solely from playing on the court. Lucrative contracts and endorsements play a significant role in boosting a player’s net worth. In 2019, Siakam inked a four-year deal with the Toronto Raptors, worth a staggering $130 million. This contract undoubtedly played a pivotal role in elevating his net worth to its current estimate.

The Significance Of Siakam’s Net Worth

In the grand scheme of things, Siakam’s net worth is a testament to his talent, dedication, and hard work. From his humble beginnings in Cameroon to his meteoric rise in the NBA, Siakam’s journey is a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes worldwide. His net worth not only reflects his success on the court but also his impact off it. Through endorsements, community work, and brand collaborations, Siakam continues to make his mark in the world of sports and beyond.

Conclusion

Pascal Siakam’s net worth in 2023 stands as a testament to his incredible journey and achievements in the world of professional basketball. With his talent, dedication, and the right opportunities, Siakam has carved a niche for himself in the NBA. As he continues to play and inspire, there’s no doubt that his net worth will keep rising, reflecting his growing influence in the sport and his value to the teams he plays for.

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New York Knicks Linked With OG Anunoby Trade

July 5, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The Toronto Raptors are doing something this offseason, but no one’s quite sure what that thing is. They have a new head coach in Darko Rajaković but the team he will lead remains to be seen. So far, Toronto’s only free agency moves have been to re-sign Jakob Poeltl for $80 million and bring in Dennis Schröder on a two-year deal. While the Raptors have a lot of young talent, it’s still unclear if they are going full youth rebuild or not.

The two players that will decide this are Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. Siakam led the Raptors in points and rebounds last season, while Anunonby led the team in steals. However, rumors have persisted all offseason about whether they will be moving on from the team. While Siakam has gotten a lot of buzz, he has also made it clear that it’s Toronto-or-bust in regards to his career. Despite this, a team could be willing to essentially take him on a rental for one year. Meanwhile, Anunoby’s name is now starting to pop up more and more in trade talks.

Toronto Cagey Despite Interest In Anunoby

TORONTO, ON – APRIL 12: O.G. Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors goes to the basket against Alex Caruso #6 of the Chicago Bulls during the 2023 Play-In Tournament at the Scotiabank Arena on April 12, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)

Per Michael Grange of Sportsnet, the New York Knicks have Anunoby high on their watch list. Anunoby had some of the best defensive metrics in the league last year. Acquiring him is something that would really solidify the Knicks as a contender. However, the problem appears to lie with Toronto. The Raptors are reportedly asking for a minimum of three first-round picks in exchange for Anunoby. Anunoby is under contract for two more seasons, with a player option for the 2024-25 season. At the very least, the multiple first-round pick figure was what the Raptors gave back in January when the Hawks tried to explore a trade. However, that was January, when the Raptors were doing much better than their .500 finish to the season.

Anunoby is a known favorite of Raptors president Masai Ujiri. It’s possible that Anunoby might not even be truly available. Instead, the team just naming a price to see if anyone calls the bluff. If that’s the case, the Knicks might pivot to their backup trade. Reportedly, the Knicks are very interested in trying to swing a trade for Sixers center and reigning MVP, Joel Embiid. These rumors have been floating around for a couple of months. However, the main thing is that they haven’t completely gone away. Regardless, it appears that the Knicks could target Anunoby…if the Raptors are willing to be reasonable.

[via]

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Drake Incessantly Trolled Sixers Owner During 2019 NBA Playoffs

June 29, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The 2019 NBA playoffs saw the Toronto Raptors win their first-ever title behind first-year head coach Nick Nurse and league superstar Kawhi Leonard. Their title run was full of memorable moments, including Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce rimshot buzzer-beater to sink the Sixers in the second round. The Raptors would eventually win the title with a 4-2 series win over the Golden State Warriors.

Meanwhile, Drake became a persistent figure on the sidelines, cheering on his hometown team. Drake has an interesting history with Toronto sports. A string of failures by teams from the Canadian city, often after Drake was in attendance or shoutout the team, has led fans to declare the rapper to be cursed. However, not only did the Raptors win the 2019 title, but Drake also tormented a then-owner of the Sixers with some masterful trolling.

Drake Had “No Chill” After Game 7 Buzzer-Beater

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Appearing on the All The Smoke podcast, Michael Rubin, who owned a stake in the Sixers between 2011 and 2022, revealed just how much Drake had trolled him. “My worst memory of Drake is in the middle of Game 7 of the playoffs, he sends me a picture of himself wearing Sixers shorts. He said, ‘I’m coming for you,’” Rubin recalled. “As soon as I saw him in Sixers shorts, I said, ‘We’re losing this fucking game.’ That jinx-ass muthafucka. Just put on these shorts and I knew it was a wrap.” Rubin was right, of course, as Kawhi Leonard ended the game with the aforementioned four-bounce buzzer-beater. However, Drake was not done with Rubin.

“By the way, I’ve never seen someone FaceTime me more times and me ignore him more than after that game. He had no chill. We had just lost [to Kawhi’s shot] and he FaceTimed every two seconds. I just never picked up. I just went home depressed.” The pair apparently quickly reconciled, with TMZ spotting them gambling in The Bahamas after the Finals. However, Drake would also go on to reference Rubin in “When To Say When” on Dark Lane Demo Tapes. “I watched Michael Rubin win a million off a couple hands/ I decide what to see next like it’s on demand/ I decide what to be next like I’m switchin’ plans/ I’ma tell you what you feel next like the weatherman.”

[via]

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Drake Embraces Dick’s Pics By Following The New Toronto Raptors Rookie On Instagram

June 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

It’s a busy and exciting time in the NBA right now. Over the past few days, there were major trades involving Marcus Smart, Kristaps Porziņģis, Bradley Beal, and Chris Paul. All that was leading up to yesterday’s NBA Draft, the headline of which was the unsurprising decision by the San Antonio Spurs to draft Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 pick.

Gradey Dick also made headlines for his dazzling red outfit before getting selected at No. 13 by the Toronto Raptors (a pretty good pick, in our opinion). After donning his Raptors hat and shaking Adam Silver’s hand, Dick’s mind was on Drake.

In a post-draft press conference, Dick was asked about Drake and he said, “Gotta get out there, see Drake. I haven’t seen him a bunch, but I’m looking forward to that. [Becoming boys with Drake], that’s the goal. I need him to wear my jersey. That’s how I know [I’ve made it]. That’s my priority.”

“I need him to wear my jersey…”

Gradey Dick, the newest member of the @Raptors, on becoming friends with Drake #NBADraft presented by State Farm on ABC/ESPN. pic.twitter.com/h5HaA1KWFJ

— NBA (@NBA) June 23, 2023

Raptors rookie Gradey Dick can’t wait to meet Drake.

“Gotta get out there, see Drake. I haven’t seen him a bunch, but I’m looking forward to that. [Becoming boys with Drake], that’s the goal. I need him to wear my jersey. That’s how I know [I’ve made it]. That’s my priority.”

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 23, 2023

Now, it appears their friendship is off to a good start: a video shared by the Raptors shows an excited Dick smiling shortly after getting followed on Instagram by Drake.

Secured the @Drake follow pic.twitter.com/ypYP5PShdx

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) June 23, 2023

Drake will surely be happy to see Dick suit up for Toronto: Per our draft analysis, “This is a good value and a good fit. Dick is one of the best shooters in the class with good size for a wing and the ability to move off the ball and shoot on the move. Defensively, he probably won’t be a big plus, but Dick improved as the season went along, and Toronto’s roster could use the infusion of floor spacing.”

Drake Follows Toronto Raptors Rookie On Instagram After Shout Out At NBA Draft

June 23, 2023 by newhiphopnews

It was a big night for Gradey Dick. The combo forward/guard out of Kansas, who is considered one of the best shooters in the class, was picked 13th overall by the Raptors during the 2023 NBA Draft.

Furthermore, Dick was one of the biggest personalities at the draft. He rocked up to New York in a dazzling red suit inspired by Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile, his eccentric and hilarious TikTok account was going viral through the draft proceedings.

However, all Dick wanted after being drafted was to get a follow on Instagram from Drake. Additionally, Dick said his eventual goal was to become besties with the Toronto rapper. Well, it appears that Dick got at least one of those wishes on draft night.

Related: 2023 NBA Draft recap

Drake Follows Gradey Dick On Instagram

Soon after making his bold statements to the media, Dick found that his wish had been answered. In Instagram videos reshared by TMZ, Dick showed off his new Instagram follow – @champagnepapi, aka Drake.

“Come on! Champagne Papiii!” Dick was heard yelling excitedly backstage after discovering that Drizzy had given him that all-important follow. The next step is to get a Gradey Dick jersey into the rapper’s hands. “I need him to wear my jersey. That’s my priority,” Dick had said at his press conference.

Obviously, Drake is one of the most prominent Raptors fans around. However, he has often been blamed for the team’s failures, with many people dubbing the Raptors’ recent lack of success the Drake Curse. However, with new coach Darko Rajaković at the helm, maybe the Drake Curse can become a Drake Blessing.

Unreleased Drake Song Heard In Houston Nightclub

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However, Instagram follows are not the only reason people are talking about Toronto’s foremost rapper. One of Drake’s unreleased songs somehow made its way into the hands of a DJ at a nightclub in Houston.

Area 29, located in Westwood in southwest Houston, treated fans to a reportedly unreleased track from Drizzy earlier this week. Footage from inside the club was shared by Our Generation Music on Instagram. However, fans in the comments were not blown away by the song. Furthermore, others felt that Drake came off as “sassy.”

In other news surrounding Drake releases, the rapper appeared to confirm that he would be featuring on Business Is Business, the upcoming album from Young Thug. In fact, Drake appears twice on the album, featuring on “Parade On Cleveland” and “Oh U Went”.

[via][via]

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Toronto Raptors Hire Darko Rajaković As New Head Coach

June 10, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The Toronto Raptors were one of six NBA teams looking for a new head coach after the 2022/23 season. A 41-41 finish and a Play-In exit to the Bulls saw the Raptors part ways with Nick Nurse. The Raptors had one of the more unique coaching searches, interviewing Becky Hammon and JJ Reddick alongside the various assistant coaches and former head coaches considered league-wide candidates.

However, their final pick comes as something of a surprise. On June 10, sources told various outlets that the Raptors were finalizing a deal with Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajaković. Golden State’s Kenny Anderson and Milwaukee’s Charles Lee are believed to be the other finalists for the position. It’s believed that the Raprots were looking for a versatile coach who could oversee an immediate contender or youth-oriented rebuild.

Who is Darko Rajaković, New Raptors Head Coach?

Basketball: Memphis Grizzlies Steven Adams (4) with assistant coach Darko Rajakovic on sidelines during game vs Dallas Mavericks at FedEx Forum. Memphis, TN 1/14/2022 CREDIT: Greg Nelson (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163908 TK1)

Darko Rajaković’s career began in his native Serbia in 1996. He was just 18 years but became head coach of the youth team at KK Borac Čačak. In 1999, he moved to coach the youth team at KK Crvena zvezda. He stayed with KK Crevena zvezda until 2007. During this time, Rajaković undertook mentorships with Arizona coach Luke Olsen and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. Furthermore, Rajaković served as a scouting consultant and Summer League for the Spurs between 2004 and 2011.

However, it wasn’t until 2012 that Rajaković made the jump to the US. He joined the Tulsa 66ers of the G-League and became well-known for is coaching prowess and talent development. By the end of his tenure in 2014, 11 of his Tulsa players had reached the NBA. The Thunder, Tulsa’s NBA affiliate, brought Rajaković on as an assistant in 2016. He spent five years with the Thunder before spending the 2019-20 season with the Suns. However, he moved out after a single season and has been with Memphis ever since. Rajaković brings a blend of academic-level basketball understanding and an unmatched warmth towards players and coaching. Toronto might have just found a complete and total coaching gem.

[via]

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Raptors Fire Nick Nurse After Five Seasons

April 21, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Nick Nurse briefly turned the Toronto Raptors into one of the NBA’s hottest brands. Serving with the team since 2013, Nurse took over as head coach in 2018. Despite going 59-23 the previous season, long-time head coach Dwayne Casey was fired after being swept in the Conference Semifinals by Cleveland. Nurse took Toronto all the way to a title in his first season, while also bringing to Kawhi Leonard to Canada.

However, Nurse has never been able to replicate that first-year success. Leonard left for LA in the offseason, meaning the Raptors traded a first-round pick for a championship. That 2019 first-rounder became Keldon Johnson, the Spurs’ leading scorer this past season. After winning 53 games the next season, the Raptors have completely dropped off. They won just 27 games in the 20/21 season and finished with a .500 record in the most recent season. As for the postseason, they lost in the first round in the 21/22 campaign and were outclassed by the Bulls in this year’s Play-In tournament.

Raptors Look To “Reset”

Nick Nurse is out as Raptors coach, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/HEKwTAdfUH

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 21, 2023

On April 21, the Raptors fired Nurse as head coach. Nurse had one year left on his contract and had met with Team President Masai Ujiri numerous times to discuss the plan going forward. However, it appears that Ujiri had other plans. In a statement, Ujiri said that the decision to move on from Nurse was “an opportunity for us to reset, to refocus, to put into place the personnel and the players who will help us reach our goal of winning our next championship.”

So what’s next for the Raptors, and for Nurse? Sources who spoke to ESPN said that former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka is a serious contender to take the Toronto job. Udoka has been a free agent since the Celtics suspended and later fired him for conduct violations. Meanwhile, Nurse may not have to wait long for his next role, as sources say that he is a prominent candidate for the vacant position with the Rockets. However, the move ends an era for the Raptors and the team will now look to find a new direction. The team holds a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

[via]