As many Raptors fans can confirm, the hottest topic lately is the buzz suggesting Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo could become the team's top offseason trade target, according to several NBA insiders.
I would definitely love to see the "Greek Freak" don a Raptors jersey, but there are many questions surrounding what it would take to make such a trade happen.
It's even possible that the Raptors could have to part ways with their franchise forward Scottie Barnes to Milwaukee to acquire Antetokounmpo. For some Raptors fans, the idea of losing Barnes in such a deal is almost too much to bear.
While I can't say for certain if Masai Ujiri—who I’ve previously noted as a strong Giannis supporter—will hesitate to make a deal solely because Barnes is a key bargaining chip, it's important to point out the reports merely suggested Toronto has been linked to targeting "big fish." As such, the Raptors' interests likely go beyond just the 30-year-old Greek superstar.
Shifting focus from the Antetokounmpo talks, I want to turn to Phoenix Suns wing Kevin Durant, another rumored trade target and a star option the Raptors should also consider if Giannis is traded elsewhere.
Durant is no stranger to Toronto, having been linked to the Raptors in 2022 trade rumors. Brooklyn showed interest in acquiring Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, which could have made KD the focal point of a win-now core alongside Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, and Gary Trent Jr. — or whoever remained after the deal.
That was certainly a ship not worth sailing at the time, and Toronto ultimately stuck with Barnes on their roster. It was a wise decision to invest in the young player rather than rush into a trade for an aging star — no matter how talented Durant remains in these later stages of his career.
Fast forward some three years later, and once again, the Toronto Raptors could possibly revisit their interest to trade for Kevin Durant, except this time around, they can easily get the deal done without sacrificing fundamental building block assets.
Raptors could land Kevin Durant without breaking the bank
Of course, the talk of the town has been Durant's seamless fit with the Houston Rockets, as their go-to veteran to elevate a core of young players.
That’s the likely outcome everyone expects, but don’t overlook Durant’s fit with Toronto and Masai Ujiri’s ability to entice rival executives with a fitting package. Using the FanSpo trade machine, trading RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and multiple draft picks to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant could complete a successful deal, asset-wise.
Whether or not that's the sweetener to make Phoenix happy is still up for debate, but Toronto isn't giving up shabby players. Barrett is a capable wing to complement Devin Booker, and Raptors fans have seen significant improvements from veteran big Jakob Poeltl — definitely not a lopsided return for the Suns by any means.
Consider Phoenix’s struggle since losing Deandre Ayton at the five—stuck with Jusuf Nurkic and Mason Plumlee—until they found a decent filler in Nick Richards. Poeltl’s skillset easily revives Phoenix’s need for a competent center.
Plus, they could acquire some picks to recoup draft capital — shouldn't everybody be happy with this deal? With that, Toronto could field a starting five of Quickley, Ingram, Durant, Barnes, and a Poeltl replacement at center. Given the Eastern Conference's bleak outlook, why couldn't this team become immediate title favorites?
I’ll definitely be rooting for the Raptors to land Giannis Antetokounmpo if that rumor continues to heat up in the coming months. Still, a Kevin Durant consolation prize at a fair price wouldn’t be a disappointing outcome for Toronto.