A blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade has been looming for quite some time now, and the Milwaukee Bucks are reportedly looking to move on from their superstar ahead of the draft.
The Raptors have been connected to Antetokounmpo for quite some time—they do, after all, love their giant two-way wings/forwards—but recent reporting by NBA insider Jake Fischer didn’t mention the Raptors as a top suitor or, more importantly, a preferred landing destination for the two-time MVP. But the Raptors will still be impacted by the trade—and not in a good way, if Antetokounmpo gets his wish of landing with another Eastern Conference team.
If Antetokounmpo stays in the Eastern Conference, the Raptors’ playoff competition could become even tougher
Fischer reported that “Chatter persists that Antetokounmpo, in any case, is determined to stay in the Eastern Conference after 13 seasons as a Buck” and that “It is generally understood that the 31-year-old will have a strong say in determining his final destination because there is only one guaranteed season left on Antetokounmpo’s current contract before a $62.8 million player option in 2027-28.”
Fischer also noted that Miami is the team on top of Antetokounmpo’s wish list, but that Boston and New York are also potential landings spots in the Eastern Conference, depending on how the NBA Finals go for the Knicks. Furthermore, Portland is reportedly interested in bringing Antetokounmpo to the Western Conference.
It would be bad news for the Raptors íf Antetokounmpo lands with the Heat, Celtics, or Knicks. Boston and New York are already two of the top teams to beat in the Eastern Conference. A healthy Antetokounmpo would only make them more dangerous and make it more difficult for the Raptors to break into the top of the Eastern Conference.
The Heat finished tenth in the regular-season standings and bowed out of the Play-In Tournament after a one-point overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The race for the Play-In Tournament and the two final outright playoff spots was brutal this past season. Every game mattered down the line for the Raptors, Hawks, 76ers, Magic, Hornets, and Heat. If the Heat can get Antetokounmpo and he can stay healthy, they should be a much bigger threat to the Raptors than they were this season.
On top of that, the Hornets will only continue to get better, the Pacers will get Tyrese Haliburton back from injury, and the Wizards won the draft lottery. The Eastern Conference is already tough enough without the Heat, Knicks, or Celtics getting better.
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