Giannis Antetokounmpo should be on Raptors radar after Bucks exit comments

Oh, what a difference a few months can make. Just nine months after Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo told teammate and former Toronto Raptors big Serge Ibaka that there is a zero percent chance he would ever play for the league’s lone Canadian team, he might be changing his tune.

Antetokounmpo set off a firestorm when he said his potential re-signing with the Bucks at the end of his current contract was not a done deal. Giannis said that he would need to see irrefutable proof that the Bucks are committed to winning a championship before he makes that decision.

With the Bucks running out of draft picks and Milwaukee’s trouble when it comes to bringing in free agents, Giannis’ exit could happen if there is not an unbroken string of success. Teams all across the league would take a sledgehammer to their roster if it meant they could acquire a future Hall of Famer like this.

With past links to Antetokounmpo, a need to bring in one more superstar player to get them out of the middle, and a front office that has a history of ripping the roster apart to acquire a superstar, the Raptors need to keep some of their tendrils out there as they explore the Giannis market.

Could the Toronto Raptors land Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Giannis and Ujiri have a connection that goes much deeper than basketball, as Ujiri helped Antetokounmpo and his family get Greek documentation after leaving Nigeria. Ujiri also tried to frantically trade up to select Antetokunmpo before Milwaukee nabbed him in the 2013 NBA Draft.

Giannis has a $51 million player option he will almost assuredly deny after the 2024-25 season. While he would be eligible for a three-year, $173 million extension, Antetokounmpo might not be willing to take that deal without support around him.

The Raptors might be able to accommodate someone like Giannis, at least in a theoretical capacity. They have some big names coming off the books in the next few years that can help them free up cap space, and a leadership structure that is committed to building a winner instead of rebuilding.

The Raptors have a ton of work before they can build a roster that is more impressive than what Milwaukee has on offer. If players like Scottie Barnes can emerge as a star, Antetokounmpo might go back on his promise to Ibaka and put on Raptors red.