Masai Ujiri's pursuit of Brandon Ingram may have just been the appetizer, with a massive main course possibly on the horizon — Toronto's rumored interest in Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
I've always felt like Antetokounmpo's name has been regularly linked to the Toronto Raptors, regardless of news about him wanting out of Milwaukee. This is likely due to his longstanding relationship with Masai Ujiri, which predates his time with the Bucks.
Masai Ujiri's ties to Giannis Antetokounmpo go back a long way
As Raptors insider Doug Smith of the Toronto Star put it in an article from April 2017:
"Not only was Ujiri enamoured of the then-teenager’s skills and promise, the Raptors executive was closely tied to the youngster. Antetokounmpo’s parents had moved from Lagos, Nigeria, to Athens in 1991, and while Antetokounmpo and three of his four brothers were born in Greece, they did not automatically qualify for full Greek citizenship. Ujiri, one of the most fervent supporters of African basketball players there is, helped the process along through advice and connections, finally seeing Antetokounmpo get his Greek papers."Doug Smith on Giannis-Ujiri connection
Perhaps that story is a bit less known to Raptors Nation, but most fans are certainly aware of Ujiri's persistent efforts to trade into the 2013 NBA Draft to secure his top prospect. However, ultimately, the Raptors' executive attempts were unsuccessful, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was instead selected 15th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Fast forward about 12 years, and now more than ever, it seems Masai Ujiri might finally be on the path to acquiring Antetokounmpo, keeping him as a dominant focal point in the East.
Antetokounmpo has been linked to numerous teams, including the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and New Orleans Pelicans, to name a few. But for the ultimate Raptors faithful, the prospect of seeing Giannis in Raptors gear immediately sparks visions of another title run.
One cannot dismiss the significance of Masai Ujiri's relationship with Antetokounmpo as a key advantage over rival GMs also vying for the "Greek Freak."
While they may not be as close in the present as earlier reports suggested, a recent report by Doug Smith indicating that both sides hold "mutual interest" suggests it may only be a matter of time before Toronto moves quickly to finalize a deal.
However, Ujiri's utilization of Toronto's assets presents another hurdle he must navigate on the path to acquiring Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Buckscould certainly be enticed by the Raptors' talent pool, especially Scottie Barnes, along with a collection of quality players like Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Gradey Dick, among others.
But the question remains: will Masai Ujiri be willing to part with some of his top recent projects in order to finally bring Giannis Antetokounmpo into Toronto?