According to a Toronto Star story, there’s mutual interest between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Raptors. So what would it take to acquire the Bucks superstar?
Josh Lewenberg of TSN tackles that subject with the biggest unknown being whether Toronto would be willing to part with its biggest star, Scottie Barnes. Thus far, the Raptors’ front office has been unwilling to discuss Barnes in any trade scenario.
Lewenberg speculates that any preliminary offer from the Raptors wouldn’t include Barnes. Instead, they would offer a package of picks, prospects, and salary filler, similar to what they offered Portland for Damian Lillard two years ago. Could a package of RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, either Gradey Dick or Ja’Kobe Walter, and a handful of future first-round picks get it done? Lewenberg doubts that, believing other teams could top that offer unless Toronto is willing to part with Barnes.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Kristaps Porzingis will be on an expiring $30.7MM contract in 2025/26 and the Celtics are expected to shed salary this offseason. Brian Robb of MassLive.com makes some hypothetical trade proposals, speculating what Boston might receive back from Detroit, both Los Angeles teams, Utah, Portland and Brooklyn for Porzingis.
- The Sixers‘ blueprint to a championship appears to be obsolete, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes. Philadelphia tried the old formula of stacking superstars by signing Paul George last summer to a max deal to join forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. However, the Thunder and Pacers took very different routes to this year’s NBA Finals, relying on young, versatile, athletic players without breaking the bank, while emphasizing depth.
- The Sixers will retain Toure Murry as a player development coach, HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto tweets. Murry, who played 51 games with the Knicks in 2013/14, joined the Sixers staff prior to the 2023/24 season.
Hey….let me be clear
Coach Thibs needs to come to Philly…send Nurse to the Knicks
Thibs coaching Embiid..??!!
Sure
Thibs would love that. LOL!🤣🤣🤣
Embiid would be forced to retire, but I like it.
I am not certain of that….maybe he can help Embiid comeback
What Philly really needs is a new GM.
Who could have guessed that adding an older often injured player to a roster filled with often injured players would not work. (Hint: Just about Everyone other than the Sixers GM.)
I like Morey
If Toronto includes Scottie Barnes in a trade for Giannis, then they’re basically the Milwaukee Bucks.
One guy and a bunch of filler. Except now their one guy is older. I don’t think that happens.
Except now their one guy is a generational superstar and one of the best NBA players of all time. Fixed it for you.
Barnes can’t hold GAs jock.
You’re right, but I don’t think anybody can. That’s why he’s the Greek freak. He’s unguardable one on one. Usually takes 2 sometimes 3 guys to stop him.
Masai better stop being stubborn.
Gary only Poetl is going on 30. Boucher likely gone this summer as a UFA and Temple a vet UFA is gone as well. Everyone else on the roster is 27 and under. Bucks have aged, raps average team age is 25. Even with Giannis raps are a young team. Raptors should definitely trade Scottie, Agbaji and Poetl with 3-4 firsts for Giannis.
Makes sense looking at it that way. They shouldn’t mind giving up Scottie since they’re fairly young overall.
Exactly
Temple is going nowhere. He babysits and was or is in the NBPA in a high position. The NBPA thing doesn’t mean they won’t waive him, but I think it’s a testament to things he brings to the table off the court (on court he’s not a contributor anymore, and that has been that way from some years ago)
the Raptors picks will have no value to the Bucks as they would be in the late 20’s the Bucks need to trade Giannis to a team that has future picks from other teams, they need future lottery picks as they dont control any of their own picks until 2031
You are lost my friend. Barnes is and always will be a #2 that plays good D. He is not a franchise changing player. The Raptors with Barnes & without Giannis are still just the Raptors. They are substantially better trading him and bag full of picks for Giannis.
Even Barnes with picks, could be bested by several teams that also control their own picks.
I forgot everyone was born to think like you Shawnpe. I must have missed the memo. Only spurs could top raptors trade offer and that’s a big IF. If rockets trade for Giannis their depth is gone. Nets would be trash if or not they do a trade. Do you really just log on to troll, argue and showcase you’re unhappy?
Panther, he’s probably talking about my comment above and when I stated I wouldn’t “want” to give up Barnes if I’m trading for Giannis.
Thinking it over I like what you say, and that’s it’s OK to give up Barnes if you’re getting a superstar like Giannis.
Yea ok. It popped up like it was a response to mine. Yea Scottie won’t be SGA. Derozen level with defense sure.
How can any of those teams be interested in Kristaps Porziņģis?
He’s a nice player but now that he’s getting older, I think his legacy has been established.
He’ll give you what he can, but there’s no guarantee He’s on the floor in the playoffs when you need him.
You can’t give up much for someone like that so I think Boston is stuck with him unless they sweeten the deal somehow.
The guy had a virus, not aids
Correct that’s what I heard. But it’s not only this year. He’s been banged up it seems like every year since he was a second year guy. Only 60 games played once since the second year.
He’s also an expiring contract with minimal risk
A few seconds and saving the Celtics some salary probably lands him
What legacy? lol
I am familiar with that but you made it sound like he had accomplished a lot in his career lol.
What has Porzingas accomplished? lol.
How did I make it sound like Kristaps accomplished a lot in his career?
-how can any of those teams be interested in KP?
-he’s getting older and his legacy is pretty much established at this point.
-there’s no guarantee he’ll be on the floor in the playoffs.
-you can’t give up much for someone like that so I think Boston is stuck with him,
How again have I suggested that KP has accomplished a lot in his career?
Legacy of being a guy who’s hurt quite a bit and misses a lot of time. You’re not familiar with that? I think it’s been his track record.
You’re probably thinking legacy always means a positive impact?
I could be wrong but I think it can be negative as well because it’s the long-lasting impact of particular events or actions that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.
So I think the unicorns legacy is that he’s on the sidelines quite often.
Something Giannis trade speculation isn’t taking into account is that if he gets traded, it won’t be because Milwaukee wants him gone. It will be because he requested a trade and I don’t see the Bucks doing Giannis dirty by sending him somewhere he might not want to go like another country or another conference. I’m not saying he has a problem playing Canada or in the Western conference, just that if he gets traded, it won’t be as simple as the-best-package-wins.
He will definitely be dictating where he goes. Likely only 1-2 teams will have a shot.
The Warriors have the pieces to get him -and- KD.
That’s raps/nets. When Giannis evaluates the factors…Nets are trash either way, raps no matter who they trade will be good, great with Giannis.
He has a history with the Toronto GM. Helped his family get legally settled in Greece. He would definitely go there. They almost traded up to get him in his draft.
Exactly. AD got where he wanted to go initially. Yea lakers dealt him to mavs but who would turn down a Luka trade? Every team does that besides OKC and Celtics.
the Bucks GM already said he is going to gut any teams roster that trades for Giannis. He is under contract he can’t just walk in Free agency like Durant can, they need to trade him to the contender that offers them the best package to rebuild and the Raptors do not have that package.
You and tons of others who are so successful have a weakness….you have hate in your heart for a team that is not even in your jurisdiction. Raptors live in your minds.
I love salary dump trade
KP can only go to Nets Pistons Pelicans
KP won’t help Lakers to save luxury tax
Two super teams should not talk championships every summer
76ers and Suns
They are projected as 7-10 seeds
With the fall of the Celtics. The Knicks going thru major changes. The Cavs and Pacers rising. Sixers should be feeling good. Especially with a major move to make. The third pick in the draft.
I don’t know about the Cavs rising. They’ve been bounced twice in the 2nd round in 5 games the last 2 seasons.
It looks like they already reached their peak.
Pacers didn’t play the Cavs. You might want to chk the rosters forb those gms. This was the first year the Cavs came to be. Injuries
The Sixers actually have a reason to keep PG-13 right now, barring some hilarious trade that is a massive overpay, as he makes an outstabding fit as a mentor with Ace Bailey, whose upside and playstyle is projected by draft analysts as a PG13 type (which is a lot of hype btw)
Stacking superstars isn’t what caused the Sixers to collapse. Signing an oft-injured 35 year-old to a max contract was their error. Embiid was already a known injury risk so you don’t add another star in Paul George. He would have been a good fit seven years ago but not now.
Exactly