Siakam ranked eighth among power forwards

HoopsHype's latest ranking puts Pascal Siakam behind Giannis, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, LeBron, Paolo Banchero and Zion Williamson.

The real question is playoff value

Rankings based on talent or upside are one thing. But if you're trying to win a playoff series tomorrow, only Giannis has a clear edge over Siakam.

“If you're trying to win a playoff series tomorrow, how many power forwards would you actually take over Siakam.”

Zion's durability is a problem

Williamson's talent is undeniable, but availability matters. Siakam has proven he can withstand the grind while New Orleans has accomplished little with Zion as its centerpiece.

Siakam's teams actually win

He won a championship in Toronto and became critical to Indiana's transformation into a contender. He impacts winning at the highest level.

Banchero doesn't play both ends

Paolo is immensely talented offensively, but Siakam can score at all three levels while defending multiple positions throughout playoff runs.

Jalen Johnson hasn't proven it yet

Johnson's regular season production is impressive, but he hasn't shown he can change a postseason series. Siakam has done it repeatedly.

“If Johnson is your best player today, how high is your team's ceiling?”

LeBron isn't the same player anymore

At 41, James isn't the player he was even five years ago. Siakam is younger, in his prime, and capable of carrying a massive workload on both ends.

Mobley is elite defensively but limited

He's a Defensive Player of the Year winner, but offensively you want more. Cleveland's offense doesn't feature him enough in stretches.

Siakam would make Cleveland more dangerous

Swap Siakam onto the Cavaliers roster and they become more dangerous in playoff series because of his shot creation and postseason experience.

Scottie Barnes has the edge overall

Barnes became Toronto's franchise player after Siakam left and possesses tremendous versatility. He can play anywhere from point guard to center.

But Barnes lacks playoff success

There's still something Barnes doesn't have that Siakam does: a lengthy resume of postseason success and championship experience.

We're obsessed with what's next

Rankings constantly chase who's younger, who has bigger upside, who produces flashier numbers. Sometimes we overlook the player who has already proven it.

Siakam checks every box

He's a champion, three-level scorer, versatile defender, durable, in his prime, and willing to take difficult assignments while carrying offensive burden.

“Most importantly, his game translates when the playoffs arrive.”

Indiana needed him for their run

The Pacers don't come close to an NBA championship without Siakam. He was their most consistent player while defending positions three through five.

Playoff success requires more than talent

When trying to win playoff series, experience, versatility, durability, toughness and championship mentality matter just as much as raw production.

Eighth place is just disrespectful

Calling Pascal Siakam the eighth-best power forward in basketball feels less like a ranking and more like another example of how underrated he's become.