It’s no secret that the Japanese Convention is weak within the NBA, and Jayson Tatum‘s harm underscores this level. This state of affairs leaves the East broad open for any crew within the convention, and the Toronto Raptors are reportedly seeking to reap the benefits of it.
Based on Brian Windhorst, the Raptors are searching for a “massive fish” this summer season. The 2 celebrity names which have emerged in commerce rumors not too long ago are Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo’s title has not too long ago been related to Toronto. Based on Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, the Raptors have an extended shot at buying Antetokounmpo, however each side share mutual pursuits. Smith additionally stated that anybody on the roster is on the market in any potential Antetokounmpo deal. Sure, that features Scottie Barnes.
Raptors followers are conscious of how a lot crew president Masai Ujiri needs to deliver Antetokounmpo to Toronto. There’s video proof of Ujiri reaching out to groups for a decide throughout the 2013 draft. In 2020, Ujiri organized the crew’s funds in anticipation of a possible commerce request from Antetokounmpo that 12 months. In the end, he selected to stay with the Bucks.
Ought to the Raptors contemplate buying and selling for Antetokounmpo?
Sure, they need to commerce for Antetokounmpo. Toronto will rapidly turn out to be a prime contender within the East. They might emerge because the favorites to win the East subsequent season. The Raptors don’t have to intestine their total crew to amass Antetokounmpo.
The perfect commerce for the Raptors entails sending RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, the ninth decide from this 12 months’s draft, a top-five protected 2027 first-round decide, a top-five protected 2029 first-round decide, and a 2031 first-round decide swap to the Milwaukee Bucks in change for Antetokounmpo, A.J. Inexperienced, and Pat Connaughton.
The perfect commerce for the Bucks entails sending Barrett, Barnes, the ninth decide from this 12 months’s draft, a top-five protected 2027 first-round decide, a top-five protected 2029 first-round decide, and a 2031 first-round decide swap to the Milwaukee Bucks in change for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.
If I have been the final supervisor of the Raptors and the one method the Bucks would settle for an Antetokounmpo deal if Barnes goes to Milwaukee, I’d do the commerce as a result of Antetokounmpo with this Toronto crew can go deep within the playoffs subsequent season.
Would a commerce for Antetokounmpo work with out giving up Barnes?
Technically, an Antetokounmpo commerce that doesn’t contain Barnes is possible. I supplied an instance of how this might work a couple of paragraphs in the past. Nevertheless, in actuality, it’s extremely unlikely that the Bucks would settle for a deal with out together with Barnes. Why hand over a franchise participant with out receiving a franchise-type participant in return?
And there’s no method Toronto is giving up Barnes. They handed him the keys to the franchise. That’s why the Raptors selected to commerce OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam whereas permitting Fred VanVleet to signal with the Houston Rockets.
We nonetheless haven’t seen what Barnes can do as a primary possibility. This season doesn’t rely as a result of the Raptors have been tanking. Ujiri is often affected person together with his groups. He’s not going to change how the crew is constructed simply because Antetokounmpo could be out there.
Sure, Toronto traded for Kawhi Leonard, however that was below completely different circumstances. The Raptors couldn’t overcome the problem of successful the NBA Finals. Ujiri knew he wanted to make a change, which finally led Toronto to its first-ever Larry O’Brien trophy.
The Raptors will not be in a scenario the place they need to commerce Barnes to get higher. They’ll add one other star with out giving up Barnes. And that’s why I don’t see Toronto buying and selling away Barnes, even when that’s what it takes to get Antetokounmpo on the crew.
