NBA Trade Rumors: Can the Toronto Raptors Nab Giannis Antetokounmpo Ahead of Miami Heat & Others?

Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a tremendous player for the Milwaukee Bucks in the last few years, leading the team to a stunning record in the regular season.

However, when the playoffs came, the Greek Freak failed to make a deep run. Following another early exit in the 2020 postseason, many believe Giannis will soon leave the Bucks.

Antetokounmpo will enter the 2021 offseason as a free agent. Any team would love to get his signature and have them lead their team. Now, according to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Toronto Raptors are emerging as one of the top contenders for him.

“Antetokounmpo’s course now will impact how his top potential suitors in 2021 free agency — Miami, Dallas, and Toronto — behave in the next month. Toronto seems a pretty open-and-shut case, assuming Masai Ujiri considers the team too good to break up. (I would argue the Raptors are despite some aging. Any team pursuing Antetokounmpo must also provide a roster ready to win.)”

Although the Raptors already have a great roster in place, no team will probably pass up on a chance to sign Giannis. Furthermore, when they lost Kawhi Leonard in the 2019 offseason, it left a huge void to be filled, something that Giannis is capable of filling as a superstar for them.

Should the Toronto Raptors break up their current roster to get Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Speaking of the current Raptors squad, Kyle Lowry is the leader for them. He has been phenomenal for the Raptors and will work well alongside Giannis. However, Zach Lowe pointed out a major reason the Raptors might back out from this move.

“They can re-sign Fred VanVleet to a fair contract, keep Serge Ibaka on a one-year balloon deal, and have plenty of space next offseason depending on OG Anunoby (extension eligible) and how Norman Powell approaches his $11.6 million player option. They wouldn’t have quite enough to fit Antetokounmpo, but they’d be one simple move away.”

If Giannis agrees to a sign and trade, his contract would be humongous. Matching that might mean to give up a little too much for Toronto. This could affect how the Raptors play their cards in the 2021 offseason.

What do you think? Is breaking up the current roster a good idea for the Raptors to get Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2021 free agency?