Giannis and Raptors Eyeing Each Other in Potential Blockbuster Move
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Toronto Raptors have mutual interest in each other, according to Doug Smith of The Toronto Star.
This is the first time the Greek superstar has seriously considered leaving Milwaukee in his 12-year NBA career.
The Bucks have struggled since winning the championship in 2021, failing to make it past the second round of the playoffs. Their early exit from the 2025 playoffs seems to have been the final straw for the 30-year-old forward.
ESPN’s Shams Charania previously reported that Antetokounmpo was “open-minded” about leaving the Bucks for the “first time in his career.”
Toronto might be the perfect landing spot.
The Raptors believe they have the pieces to make a compelling offer without gutting their roster.
“I think the Raptors are uniquely placed to make an attractive offer that won’t ruin their franchise or roster,” Smith wrote. “I would make the case that a logjam at the wings makes them deep enough that if they had to pay even two out of Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja’Kobe Walter, RJ Barrett, Jonathan Mogbo would still leave enough to fill out a pretty good team with promising young players still developing.”
Money is a major factor in any potential deal. Giannis is about to start a massive three-year, $175.36 million contract next season, earning roughly $54.12 million in 2025-26 alone.
His deal includes a $62.78 million player option for 2027-28.
The Raptors have typically struggled to attract top free agents, making a trade their best option for landing a superstar. They control all their future first-round picks and hold the No. 9 overall selection in this year’s draft.
A package centered around young talents like Gradey Dick, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley could be enough to tempt Milwaukee.
To make room for Giannis’s massive contract, Toronto would likely need to part ways with some current players. Chris Boucher, despite having one of his most efficient seasons, might be the odd man out.
The 32-year-old wing averaged 10 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 17.2 minutes in 50 games off the bench this season.
“He probably belongs on a contending team,” wrote ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, “but Boucher, who went to high school in Quebec, is at home with the Raptors as the lone remaining player from the 2019 title team.”
That connection to the championship squad might not be enough to keep him in Toronto if the Raptors can land a player of Giannis’s caliber.
