Could the Raptors Go All-In for Giannis? Here’s What That Might Look Like
There’s been a quiet hum around the league for a while now - a sense that if Giannis Antetokounmpo ever became available, there’d be a long line of teams ready to mortgage their futures for a shot at the two-time MVP. And now, with the Milwaukee Bucks looking shakier than we’ve seen in years, that buzz is starting to grow louder.
One team that keeps popping up in those conversations? The Toronto Raptors.
Toronto’s interest in Giannis isn’t new. League insiders have long speculated about the Raptors as a potential landing spot, especially during the post-championship phase of Giannis’s career in Milwaukee.
With Masai Ujiri no longer in the front office, the dynamics have changed, but the ambition hasn’t. The Raptors still see themselves as a franchise capable of making a seismic move - and Giannis would be just that.
On a recent episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps laid out what he believes it would take for the Raptors to make a serious run at Giannis: their entire draft arsenal. That’s not hyperbole - we’re talking about full control of Toronto’s draft picks for the next seven years.
“If I could get seven years of Toronto Raptors’ drafts fully in control,” Bontemps said, “I’m thinking about it.”
From Milwaukee’s perspective, that’s a tempting offer. Even if Toronto’s current pick isn’t much to write home about, the long-term value of those future selections could be massive - especially if Giannis were to leave after a few seasons and the Raptors found themselves in a rebuild without any picks to help soften the fall.
And that’s the gamble here. Toronto has a rare asset in today’s NBA: a full cupboard of draft capital.
That flexibility is a huge advantage at the trade deadline, especially when most contenders have already dealt away a few firsts. But using all of it?
That’s a swing for the fences, no question.
Still, this isn’t just any player we’re talking about. Giannis is 31, still in his prime, and still one of the most dominant forces in the league.
He’s not just a trade target - he’s a potential dynasty-builder. If the Raptors were to land him, they’d instantly vault into the top tier of contenders in the Eastern Conference.
With the right supporting cast, they’d have a legitimate shot at another championship banner.
But the flip side is just as real. If the chemistry doesn’t click, if injuries hit, or if the supporting pieces don’t hold up, the Raptors could find themselves stuck - no picks, no flexibility, and no easy way out. That’s the risk when you go all-in.
Toronto’s front office now faces a franchise-defining decision. Do you leverage your future for a chance to win now with one of the game’s true superstars? Or do you hold your cards, stay the course, and hope a better opportunity comes along down the line?
It’s not an easy call. But if Giannis becomes truly available, the Raptors will have to decide quickly - and boldly.