Giannis Is on the Trade Block - but Do the Raptors Have Enough to Make It Happen?
After years of speculation and what felt like endless “will they or won’t they” conversations, the Milwaukee Bucks have officially placed Giannis Antetokounmpo on the trade market. That’s not a typo. The Greek Freak - a two-time MVP, Finals champion, and the face of the Bucks franchise - is now available, and the NBA landscape just shifted in a major way.
Milwaukee’s decision didn’t come out of nowhere. The team has stumbled through a disappointing season, sitting at 18-28 and currently holding the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference.
That’s a steep fall for a team that’s been a perennial contender. And the numbers without Giannis?
Brutal. The Bucks are 3-13 in games he hasn't played - a clear sign that without him, the wheels come off fast.
It’s not just a dip - it’s a collapse.
Meanwhile, north of the border, the Toronto Raptors have quietly put together a solid campaign. Despite dealing with their own share of adversity, they’re sitting in the fourth seed with a 29-20 record.
That’s not nothing. And if you’ve followed the league for a while, you know Toronto has long been linked to Giannis.
Back in the Masai Ujiri era, the Raptors were viewed as a potential landing spot if Giannis ever shook loose - thanks to Ujiri’s ties to Africa and his reputation for pulling off bold moves. Ujiri may be gone, but the dream?
Very much alive.
Now, with Giannis officially on the block, the Raptors have a shot to make that dream a reality. But there’s one big problem: their trade chips might not be enough to win the bidding war.
The Contract Conundrum
According to ESPN’s The Hoop Collective podcast, analysts Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon all weighed in on Toronto’s chances. The consensus? The Raptors are in the mix - but they’ve got some hurdles to clear.
The biggest issue? Contracts.
MacMahon flat-out called it a “problem,” and Windhorst backed him up, pointing out that some of the players Toronto would be sending back come with less-than-desirable deals. In a league where salary matching is just as important as talent in trade negotiations, that’s a major sticking point.
Bontemps did offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting the Raptors could make a splash by putting their full stash of future draft picks on the table. That kind of move could grab Milwaukee’s attention - but it also opens up a whole new layer of risk and long-term consequences for Toronto. Betting the future on one player, even one as dominant as Giannis, is never a simple call.
The Players in Play
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about the Raptors having bad players. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley are both legitimate NBA talents.
Quickley, in particular, has shown flashes of real upside - and he’s coming off a Player of the Week nod not long ago. Yes, he’s been streaky, and his next contract might be a bit rich for some teams’ taste, but he’s far from a throw-in.
Barrett, on the other hand, has had trouble staying on the floor this season and is approaching free agency. That complicates things. Milwaukee would have to decide whether he’s part of their long-term plans - and whether they’re willing to pay him like it.
Then there’s Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors would likely be thrilled to include him in a deal, but let’s call it what it is - his contract is one of the least attractive assets in this whole equation. He’s a solid big, but the value just isn’t there relative to the money he’s owed.
Can Toronto Make the Numbers Work?
From a salary-matching standpoint, the Raptors can absolutely put together a package that works on paper. That’s not the issue. The challenge is whether that package is compelling enough to convince Milwaukee to pull the trigger - especially when other teams might be able to offer more attractive combinations of young talent, expiring deals, and draft capital.
Toronto has the picks. That’s their ace.
But if the Bucks are looking for a mix of future assets and players they can build around immediately, the Raptors might be coming up a little short. It’s not that the pieces are bad - they’re just not the kind of slam-dunk assets that make a blockbuster deal feel inevitable.
The Bottom Line
Giannis Antetokounmpo being available is a seismic moment in the NBA. And the Raptors, with their competitive record and long-standing interest, are right in the thick of the conversation.
But interest alone doesn’t get a deal done. Toronto’s current roster and contract situation make them a fascinating - but flawed - contender in the Giannis sweepstakes.
If they want to make this happen, it’s going to take creativity, boldness, and maybe a bit of luck. Because right now, their offer might not be spicy enough to seal the deal.