Raptors coach Nurse wants Siakam to become the primary scorer this season

Raptors head coach Nick Nurse looks like he has found his next primary scorer after Kawhi Leonard departed for the favor of the Los Angeles Clippers this summer. He believes that the guy who should take that role, the responsibility, is small forward Pascal Siakam who showed how much he has improved his game and especially his shooting ability — something that wasn’t really his element before. Siakam will take over the offense this season, so he is the “next step” for the Toronto Raptors.

“I think a situation has been created for him to expand his role a little bit,” Nurse said, via the Toronto Sun. “Maybe become our primary option on offence. Again, his shooting continues to improve. It’s something that really wasn’t part of his game a couple of years ago. It’s adequate now. He’s going to need to step in and take those (shots).”

Siakam spent his summer working on his game, particularly his ball-handling and mid-range shooting.

“He’s very versatile bringing the ball up the floor. We’ll give him a lot of freedom, a lot of opportunities to continue to expand his game, but he’ll be somebody that has a great season I think,” Nurse said.

Siakam averaged 16.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists during the 2018–19 regular season. He shot 54.9 percent from the field, 36.9 percent from the perimeter and 78.5 percent from the free-throw line.