The Toronto Raptors are in a tough spot as a result of the incredible blockbuster trade.

If the Raptors don’t move Pascal Siakam and/or OG Anunoby by the trade deadline, the Sixers now lurk as a real threat to sign them in free agency. Your move, Masai!

Thanks to the James Harden trade, Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri is now in a pickle.

Pascal Siakam is in the final season of his four-year, $136.9 million contract and is set to become a free agent in July. Fellow forward OG Anunoby has a $19.9 million player option for the 2024-25 season that he’s a virtual lock to decline. The Raptors can only offer Anunoby a four-year extension worth roughly $117 million, but longtime NBA reporter Marc Stein said in early October that he’s expected to “rebuff any extension attempts” and test free agency next summer.

In the wake of the Harden deal, the Sixers suddenly have the ability to carve out more than $55 million in cap space next summer. With both Tobias Harris and Kelly Oubre Jr. set to become free agents, they might have a glaring need at forward to pair with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid.

If Siakam or Anunoby are open to hearing out offers in free agency, the Sixers lurk as a legitimate threat to sign either one. That sets up a fascinating game of chicken between Ujiri and Sixers president Daryl Morey over the next three months.

If the Raptors’ slow start to the season trickles over into 2024—which is when Marcus Morris Sr., Nicolas Batum, Robert Covington and Kenyon Martin Jr. can have their contracts aggregated with others in a trade—Morey figures to place a call to Ujiri ahead of the trade deadline. Although Ujiri tends to drive a hard bargain in deals, Morey can leverage the Sixers’ cap outlook to his advantage in negotiations.

The Sixers can effectively say to the Raptors: “You can trade us either Anunoby or Siakam ahead of the deadline and ensure you get something in return for them, or you can stand pat, we’ll sign them in free agency and you’ll lose them for nothing. Your choice!”

As their incumbent team, the Raptors do have the ability to offer Anunoby and Siakam more money and an additional year than any other team on their next contract. If the Raptors are willing to make that type of financial commitment to either one next summer, they can treat the Sixers as an empty threat. But if they aren’t, they’ll have to ponder whether they can afford to lose either player for nothing in free agency, much like they did with Fred VanVleet this past offseason.