ESPN theoretical Giannis to Raptors trade

[ciueli]

Giannis is a top 30 player of all-time, in his prime, locked into a long term deal. It could take decades in the draft to get someone as good as him.

Whatever they want, you give.

He's not locked into a long term deal. He's got two guaranteed years, and then a player option. He could be gone after the 26/27 season.

The likely scenario is that he tacks on years to his existing deal before it expires.

I doubt a 34 year Giannis intends to enter free agency. He's going to want a big extension prior to that.

It's not like MIL is going to send him to CHA. He will have a large say in his next destination.

He wouldn’t sign an extension here, he’s going to the Lakers in 2027 to play with Luka. He’s not chaining himself to a team with Brandon Ingram as the second best player for the next 4+ years of his career, it’s even more obvious given we’re a high tax cold weather location, if it fails year 1 he might even demand a trade, he isn’t going to show us the loyalty he’s giving Milwaukee.

[OakleyDokely]

He's not locked into a long term deal. He's got two guaranteed years, and then a player option. He could be gone after the 26/27 season.

The likely scenario is that he tacks on years to his existing deal before it expires.

I doubt a 34 year Giannis intends to enter free agency. He's going to want a big extension prior to that.

It's not like MIL is going to send him to CHA. He will have a large say in his next destination.

He wouldn’t sign an extension here, he’s going to the Lakers in 2027 to play with Luka. He’s not chaining himself to a team with Brandon Ingram as the second best player for the next 4+ years of his career, it’s even more obvious given we’re a high tax cold weather location, if it fails year 1 he might even demand a trade, he isn’t going to show us the loyalty he’s giving Milwaukee.

If he'd accept a trade here, that means he wants to be here. Otherwise, he'd just tell the Bucks that he only wants a move to the Lakers. Giannis is going to have a large say over his next move.

Agents don't let their players head into free agency anymore, especially older ones. They want them to sign big extensions as soon as possible to reduce the risk of getting less because of injuries or poor play. Once they have multiple years of a contract locked in, if they don't like their situation, they just ask out.

[ciueli]

The likely scenario is that he tacks on years to his existing deal before it expires.

I doubt a 34 year Giannis intends to enter free agency. He's going to want a big extension prior to that.

It's not like MIL is going to send him to CHA. He will have a large say in his next destination.

He wouldn’t sign an extension here, he’s going to the Lakers in 2027 to play with Luka. He’s not chaining himself to a team with Brandon Ingram as the second best player for the next 4+ years of his career, it’s even more obvious given we’re a high tax cold weather location, if it fails year 1 he might even demand a trade, he isn’t going to show us the loyalty he’s giving Milwaukee.

If he'd accept a trade here, that means he wants to be here. Otherwise, he'd just tell the Bucks that he only wants a move to the Lakers. Giannis is going to have a large say over his next move.

Agents don't let their players head into free agency anymore, especially older ones. They want them to sign big extensions as soon as possible to reduce the risk of getting less because of injuries or poor play. Once they have multiple years of a contract locked in, if they don't like their situation, they just ask out.

Players can demand a trade to their favoured destination but it doesn't always work out for them the way they'd like. Kawhi wanted LA and wound up in Toronto, Damian Lillard wanted to be sent to Miami and wound up in Milwaukee, Jimmy Butler wanted Phoenix and instead landed in Golden State. The only way to 100% control your destination as a player is sign as a free agent, otherwise the team will always take the best deal they are offered.

And if Giannis is thinking the way you say he is, why is he not signing an extension now with Milwaukee to maximize his security, given it's been decided he's staying there for the upcoming season? Why not lock in for an additional 3 years then demand a trade in 2026? The answer is that he knows he isn't going to stay in Milwaukee long term and he needs to control his own future, he won't let it be dictated in a bidding war that could wind up with him becoming the next Kevin Durant.

[djsunyc]

He wouldn’t sign an extension here, he’s going to the Lakers in 2027 to play with Luka. He’s not chaining himself to a team with Brandon Ingram as the second best player for the next 4+ years of his career, it’s even more obvious given we’re a high tax cold weather location, if it fails year 1 he might even demand a trade, he isn’t going to show us the loyalty he’s giving Milwaukee.

If he'd accept a trade here, that means he wants to be here. Otherwise, he'd just tell the Bucks that he only wants a move to the Lakers. Giannis is going to have a large say over his next move.

Agents don't let their players head into free agency anymore, especially older ones. They want them to sign big extensions as soon as possible to reduce the risk of getting less because of injuries or poor play. Once they have multiple years of a contract locked in, if they don't like their situation, they just ask out.

Players can demand a trade to their favoured destination but it doesn't always work out for them the way they'd like. Kawhi wanted LA and wound up in Toronto, Damian Lillard wanted to be sent to Miami and wound up in Milwaukee, Jimmy Butler wanted Phoenix and instead landed in Golden State. The only way to 100% control your destination as a player is sign as a free agent, otherwise the team will always take the best deal they are offered.

And if Giannis is thinking the way you say he is, why is he not signing an extension now with Milwaukee to maximize his security, given it's been decided he's staying there for the upcoming season? Why not lock in for an additional 3 years then demand a trade in 2026? The answer is that he knows he isn't going to stay in Milwaukee long term and he needs to control his own future, he won't let it be dictated in a bidding war that could wind up with him becoming the next Kevin Durant.

while true, all those 3 had mitigating circumstances

spurs traded kawhi to us out of spite

blazers didnt trade lillard to miami because ownership/gm hated the heat leaking it and trying to negotiate in the press

jimmy and pat had a falling out

so emotions effected all 3

considering giannis and bucks are on great terms and he delivered them a chip, they'll probably be more acquiescing.

[OakleyDokely]

He wouldn’t sign an extension here, he’s going to the Lakers in 2027 to play with Luka. He’s not chaining himself to a team with Brandon Ingram as the second best player for the next 4+ years of his career, it’s even more obvious given we’re a high tax cold weather location, if it fails year 1 he might even demand a trade, he isn’t going to show us the loyalty he’s giving Milwaukee.

If he'd accept a trade here, that means he wants to be here. Otherwise, he'd just tell the Bucks that he only wants a move to the Lakers. Giannis is going to have a large say over his next move.

Agents don't let their players head into free agency anymore, especially older ones. They want them to sign big extensions as soon as possible to reduce the risk of getting less because of injuries or poor play. Once they have multiple years of a contract locked in, if they don't like their situation, they just ask out.

Players can demand a trade to their favoured destination but it doesn't always work out for them the way they'd like. Kawhi wanted LA and wound up in Toronto, Damian Lillard wanted to be sent to Miami and wound up in Milwaukee, Jimmy Butler wanted Phoenix and instead landed in Golden State. The only way to 100% control your destination as a player is sign as a free agent, otherwise the team will always take the best deal they are offered.

And if Giannis is thinking the way you say he is, why is he not signing an extension now with Milwaukee to maximize his security, given it's been decided he's staying there for the upcoming season? Why not lock in for an additional 3 years then demand a trade in 2026? The answer is that he knows he isn't going to stay in Milwaukee long term and he needs to control his own future, he won't let it be dictated in a bidding war that could wind up with him becoming the next Kevin Durant.

Kawhi and SA had a terrible relationship, as did Butler with Mia by the end. Giannis and the Bucks don't. MIL might not have been Lillard's first choice, but it wasn't somewhere he didn't want to go. I find it hard to believe that the Bucks would send him to a place he doesn't approve of.

[ciueli]

If he'd accept a trade here, that means he wants to be here. Otherwise, he'd just tell the Bucks that he only wants a move to the Lakers. Giannis is going to have a large say over his next move.

Agents don't let their players head into free agency anymore, especially older ones. They want them to sign big extensions as soon as possible to reduce the risk of getting less because of injuries or poor play. Once they have multiple years of a contract locked in, if they don't like their situation, they just ask out.

Players can demand a trade to their favoured destination but it doesn't always work out for them the way they'd like. Kawhi wanted LA and wound up in Toronto, Damian Lillard wanted to be sent to Miami and wound up in Milwaukee, Jimmy Butler wanted Phoenix and instead landed in Golden State. The only way to 100% control your destination as a player is sign as a free agent, otherwise the team will always take the best deal they are offered.

And if Giannis is thinking the way you say he is, why is he not signing an extension now with Milwaukee to maximize his security, given it's been decided he's staying there for the upcoming season? Why not lock in for an additional 3 years then demand a trade in 2026? The answer is that he knows he isn't going to stay in Milwaukee long term and he needs to control his own future, he won't let it be dictated in a bidding war that could wind up with him becoming the next Kevin Durant.

while true, all those 3 had mitigating circumstances

spurs traded kawhi to us out of spite

blazers didnt trade lillard to miami because ownership/gm hated the heat leaking it and trying to negotiate in the press

jimmy and pat had a falling out

so emotions effected all 3

considering giannis and bucks are on great terms and he delivered them a chip, they'll probably be more acquiescing.

The situation would be exactly the same as Damian Lillard moving on from the Blazers. HoF level player who played his entire career for one franchise and demands a trade. Team was literally waiting for him to demand a trade so they could move him without the fan backlash, they could just blame it on the player and say they were just doing what the player wanted. Lillard wanted to go to Miami, was dead set on it and then wound up in Milwaukee where nothing has gone right and he's miserable. Giannis will 100% learn from that example because it's right in front of him, if he wants to be in LA the only guarantee that happens is signing as a free agent. "Probably", as you say, isn't going to cut it when this is the future of the rest of his career that's at stake.

[JB7]

Toronto Raptors get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks get:

Scottie Barnes
Gradey Dick
Ochai Agbaji
2025 first-round pick (No. 9)
2029 first-round pick
2031 first-round pick

This is pretty much the deal I was thinking could happen. I wonder if Giannis' interest in a destination has changed though, especially with the recent ownership change in LA.

[wegotthabeet]

Too much.

Scottie, Dick and Walter is all I'm giving. That's better than the Doncic package.

That's a recent ROY, a recent lottery pick and a draft faller.

We want to be Indiana NOT Pheonix. Why are we using an objective failure of a trade to set the baseline? Because the Suns massively overpaid for KD (couldn't win a single series with him, missed the playoffs entirely despite keeping a 1st team All NBA player) means we should clear out all assets for Giannis?

Scottie is a massive price to pay.

Toronto has the best offer in this article, unless you are irrationally high on Dylan Harper (who could be a bust).

Those Detroit & Golden State offers are awful. Ivey + Stewart + 3 picks wtf.

The Score published this article two weeks ago: https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/3296281

Trade 1:
RJ
Pöltl
Dick
Shead
2025 No. 9 pick
2028 1st-round pick
2029 1st-round swap
2030 1st-round pick
2031 1st-round swap

Trade 2:
Scottie Barnes
Ochai Agbaji
Gradey Dick
2025 No. 9 pick
2028 1st-round pick
2029 1st-round swap

Trade 2 is more realistic than the ESPN article trade. You got guys in this forum including Scottie + every pick. You're outbidding yourselves at that point. It should be either/or.

[causal_fan]

easy no

[JB7]

With the sale of the Lakers, it now seems a bit clearer why Giannis pulled back on asking for a trade now. How long before he ends on on the Lakers? Does he wait until FA?

[ciueli]

With the sale of the Lakers, it now seems a bit clearer why Giannis pulled back on asking for a trade now. How long before he ends on on the Lakers? Does he wait until FA?

I believe he stays with Milwaukee this season, their team will be bad with Damian Lillard probably missing the entire season, then the Bucks will try to get him to sign an extension next offseason and he will say no. They will end up trading him because they know they will lose him for nothing if they don't, it could end up a Kawhi situation where a team close to winning a title makes a move and hopes to win it all in one year before he signs with the Lakers.

[artsncrafts]

With the sale of the Lakers, it now seems a bit clearer why Giannis pulled back on asking for a trade now. How long before he ends on on the Lakers? Does he wait until FA?

Whenever the NBA wants him to go there they will make it happen.

[deck]

If this trade is on the table, you absolutely do it.

That said, I maintain that Toronto looking for the 'big fish' narrative doesn't make a lot of sense to me given where we are at. We've had two seasons where either due to injury or due to tanking, we haven't fielded our best roster. The value of the players we have is somewhat suppressed as a result.

I would rather we let this team play a proper season together before doing anything hasty. This kind of Giannis trade I could understand. But I want no part of going after someone like KD.

[EastonEddy]

When I saw scottie was going the other way I voted yes instantly.

[earthtone]

If this trade is on the table, you absolutely do it.

That said, I maintain that Toronto looking for the 'big fish' narrative doesn't make a lot of sense to me given where we are at. We've had two seasons where either due to injury or due to tanking, we haven't fielded our best roster. The value of the players we have is somewhat suppressed as a result.

I would rather we let this team play a proper season together before doing anything hasty. This kind of Giannis trade I could understand. But I want no part of going after someone like KD.

Yah, this is my thought process too. Even if you look at this roster and think the absolute ceiling is making the second round, it’s still worthwhile to play it out with this group.

You’ll learn what fits and what doesn’t, and everyone’s trade value will be much higher playing on a 45+ win playoff team than it is after a 30 win tanking season

[raptoradical]

Why is everyone acting as if Durant is not at the tail end of his career?

[wegotthabeet]

When I saw scottie was going the other way I voted yes instantly.

You’re going to be eating crow in six months.

[wegotthabeet]

With the sale of the Lakers, it now seems a bit clearer why Giannis pulled back on asking for a trade now. How long before he ends on on the Lakers? Does he wait until FA?

I believe he stays with Milwaukee this season, their team will be bad with Damian Lillard probably missing the entire season, then the Bucks will try to get him to sign an extension next offseason and he will say no. They will end up trading him because they know they will lose him for nothing if they don't, it could end up a Kawhi situation where a team close to winning a title makes a move and hopes to win it all in one year before he signs with the Lakers.

Great then we can get him with a similar Kawhi like package next year.

[ciueli]

With the sale of the Lakers, it now seems a bit clearer why Giannis pulled back on asking for a trade now. How long before he ends on on the Lakers? Does he wait until FA?

I believe he stays with Milwaukee this season, their team will be bad with Damian Lillard probably missing the entire season, then the Bucks will try to get him to sign an extension next offseason and he will say no. They will end up trading him because they know they will lose him for nothing if they don't, it could end up a Kawhi situation where a team close to winning a title makes a move and hopes to win it all in one year before he signs with the Lakers.

Great then we can get him with a similar Kawhi like package next year.

Which 4x All-Star and 2x All-NBA player on our roster will we be trading away to get him?

[raptoradical]

When I saw scottie was going the other way I voted yes instantly.

You’re going to be eating crow in six months.

Having a serving of crow wouldn’t be a new for this board