Kofi Inkoom
To finalize the Pascal Siakam trade with Indiana, the Raptors have released center Christian Koloko, as per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
In a three-team trade today, Pascal Siakam joined the Indiana Pacers, with the Raptors acquiring Bruce Brown Jr. and three first-round picks.
P, thank you for everything you have done for The North pic.twitter.com/gMJzu1oN3o
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 18, 2024
Blake Murphy of Sportsnet reports that Koloko, 23, will receive his full salary, but the Raptors forfeit his non-guaranteed pseudo-team option for next year.
Despite Coach Darko Rajakovic revealing that Koloko, dealing with an illness, has been actively training, the team’s decision to release the second-year center, who remains indefinitely sidelined, seems inevitable.
Also, the Raptors had an available roster spot, but to accommodate the addition of the three players – Brown, Nwora, and Lewis – they opted to waive Christian Koloko.
There are potential plans to reintegrate Koloko with Raptors 905 or consider re-signing him in the upcoming summer, according to Blake Murphy.
Throughout the 2023-24 season, Koloko has grappled with respiratory issues, preventing him from taking the court at any point.