Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future is shaping right into a key storyline for the summer time. The 2-time MVP has persistently made his desire to win clear. Nevertheless, the Milwaukee Bucks have been unable to piece collectively a contending-level roster in recent times.
As such, there is a rising perception amongst NBA followers that Antetokounmpo may search for a change of surroundings in the course of the offseason. In keeping with Doug Smith of The Toronto Daily Star, Antetokounmpo and the Toronto Raptors have a mutual curiosity.
“I don’t know if it should occur, however I do know there may be mutual curiosity between Antetokounmpo and the Raptors,” Smith reported. “The wild card is the fee. However I additionally assume the Raptors are uniquely positioned to make a sexy provide that received’t wreck their franchise or roster.”
A key dialogue level surrounding any potential commerce for Antetokounmpo is the steep asking worth the Bucks will undoubtedly slap on their star asset. Groups might want to intestine their asset storage with the intention to have an opportunity of prying him away from Milwaukee. Subsequently, there’s an opportunity Antetokounmpo may land in a worse place than he presently finds himself in.
It is for that purpose that Brian Windhorst lately cited the Boston Celtics as a logical touchdown spot for the veteran ahead. The 2024 champions are one of many few groups with sufficient depth to soak up the price of buying a famous person whereas having expertise to stay aggressive after the deal is finished.
“I feel you need to have a look at the groups that might make a commerce for Giannis that the Bucks would settle for and on the opposite facet of the commerce would have a contending group,” Windhorst mentioned on a May 29 episode of ‘Get Up.’ “So Boston could be on that listing. Boston would be the just one.”
Toronto, like Boston, may have the depth required to make a Giannis deal work. Nevertheless, including the 30-year-old would imply the Raptors are making a big U-turn from their present rebuilding efforts.
Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett would undoubtedly be the headliners in a possible commerce. They’re the Raptors’ two finest gamers at current. Subsequently, Antetokounmpo could be surrounded by function gamers, with no clear second star to assist assist him.
Positive, the Raptors could be a aggressive group in a weakened Jap Convention, however the match could be removed from supreme. Toronto would wish a 12 months or so to construct out a aggressive rotation round Antetokounmpo. At that time, he may as nicely follow the Bucks and continue building his legacy there.
Toronto might have the expertise wanted to create a viable commerce package deal, however in fact, promoting Antetokounmpo on a imaginative and prescient that’s nonetheless a 12 months or two away might be a troublesome promote. He needs to compete now. In any other case, the motivation for him switching groups might be null and void.
