Windhorst: Raptors making noise around the league looking for a “big fish” // Giannis & Toronto "Mutual Interest"/KD too

[WuTang_OG]

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/brian-windhorst-the-hoop-collective/id293376147?i=1000710735564


23 min

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Rumors surrounding Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo future continue to swirl, and the Toronto Raptors are being linked to the two-time MVP.


MIN: 34.4
PTS: 30.57 (60.92%)
REB: 12.15
As: 6.47
ST: 0.88
BL: 1.15
TO: 3.18
GM: 72


Veteran Toronto Star reporter Doug Smith revealed that there’s real mutual interest between Antetokounmpo and the Raptors, though making a deal happen remains a big challenge.

“I don’t know if it will happen but I do know there is mutual interest between Antetokounmpo and the Raptors,” Smith wrote, per Hoopshype. “The wild card is the cost. But I also think the Raptors are uniquely placed to make an attractive offer that won’t ruin their franchise or roster.”

According to Smith, Toronto could put together a competitive package without gutting their core or jeopardizing their long-term future.

“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.”

“Plus, they have all their picks, so giving a first-rounder every year for, say, four years, leaves enough,” he explained.

During the 2024-25 NBA regular season, Giannis averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game while shooting 60.1% from the field.

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[Potential]

We're 100% going to be very aggressive for Giannis

[Clutch0z24]

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21:50 Mark

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This could be interesting ....Even if we don't get Giannis we prolly have the assets to make another move for another player....Lets hope it works this time...

[tdotrep2]

It's obviously going to be a push for giannis, but who else could potentially be on their radar? Durant?

[LoveMyRaps]

Draft night seems like a good time to make such a trade!

[Brinbe]

that's not surprising. they've been wanting that for years now since dame/kd. but convincing that sort of 1A guy to be a featured act here when they can play anywhere is a tough recruiting job.

and to be clear, siakam isn't a big fish.

i usually love their convos on the hoops collective pod but they're way off there. pascal is a great robin but that wasn't his role here.

[Boardbreaker]

It's obviously going to be a push for giannis, but who else could potentially be on their radar? Durant?

Booker? Ja?

[Troubadour]

The irony of trading Pascal Siakam because he's "only a number two option" to then trade for a "big fish" who needs a number two option is too much for me to stomach.

Also weird how superstar and future face of the league needs a "big fish" on top of leading scoring option and ball handler Brandon Ingram and second scoring option RJ Barrett. What's his role on the team at that point and when does management get rid of everyone again to make sure Scottie's ego isn't bruised?

[Zeno]

I have a feeling, it’s JJJ we are really after. The way Windhorst mentioned the Kings wanting a point guard gave me the impression that IQ could be of interest there. Maybe a three teamer..off to the trade machine…

[Clutch0z24]

It's obviously going to be a push for giannis, but who else could potentially be on their radar? Durant?

Booker? Ja?

I think we could make a push for them as well as Trae Young/Lamelo Ball.....If Giannis ofc doesn't work out....Giannis will be priority number 1 though....

[Troubadour]

It's obviously going to be a push for giannis, but who else could potentially be on their radar? Durant?

Booker? Ja?

I think we could make a push for them as well as Trae Young/Lamelo Ball.....If Giannis ofc doesn't work out....Giannis will be priority number 1 though....

A Raptors core of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes...between the combined 100 games missed per year and the awful body language, it would be a product befitting this ownership group

[tdotrep2]

The irony of trading Pascal Siakam because he's "only a number two option" to then trade for a "big fish" who needs a number two option is too much for me to stomach.

Also weird how superstar and future face of the league needs a "big fish" on top of leading scoring option and ball handler Brandon Ingram and second scoring option RJ Barrett. What's his role on the team at that point and when does management get rid of everyone again to make sure Scottie's ego isn't bruised?

what is ingram? clearly number 2, scottie + ingram more than fill this so I am not sure why we are bringing up pascal

[Indeed]

There are many teams report to make trades, particularly those over the tax, such as Garland was reported to be gathering market value.

However us being at the tax (with 14 players) or slightly over, it makes me uncertain that we are going over the tax.

[Brinbe]

I have a feeling, it’s JJJ we are really after. The way Windhorst mentioned the Kings wanting a point guard gave me the impression that IQ could be of interest there. Maybe a three teamer..off to the trade machine…

nah. the grizz literally gave up smart and a 1st to the wiz at the deadline to have the cap flexibility to keep jjj. they're not trading him. ja will go before him if it came down to it.

[Dalek]

Masai Ujiri needs to be stopped. He was lucky to get Kawhi and Gasol and the surrounding players worked well, but this ain't 2019 - we have been a b2b lotto team.

The man as he gets older cuts so many corners and is now compounding mistakes. We already have a broken non-relevant Brandon Ingram, we don't need more mistakes like this.

[NinjaBro]

Start up the Barnes appreciation thread boys!

[carlosey]

Both Masai and rogers know the time is now. They are going to go all out after Giannis.

[Zeno]

I have a feeling, it’s JJJ we are really after. The way Windhorst mentioned the Kings wanting a point guard gave me the impression that IQ could be of interest there. Maybe a three teamer..off to the trade machine…

nah. the grizz literally gave up smart and a 1st to the wiz to have the flexibility keep jjj. they're not trading him. ja will go before him.

Yeah probably just wishful thinking but a front court of JJ, Scottie, Ingram is absolutely an ideal. I think they will be throwing out a very large offer for him.

[Troubadour]

The irony of trading Pascal Siakam because he's "only a number two option" to then trade for a "big fish" who needs a number two option is too much for me to stomach.

Also weird how superstar and future face of the league needs a "big fish" on top of leading scoring option and ball handler Brandon Ingram and second scoring option RJ Barrett. What's his role on the team at that point and when does management get rid of everyone again to make sure Scottie's ego isn't bruised?

what is ingram? clearly number 2, scottie + ingram more than fill this so I am not sure why we are bringing up pascal

They brought up Pascal, it's in the podcast episode.

OK, so if Brandon Ingram was brought in to be the number two option...and the Raptors are now looking for a "big fish" on top of that...what does that make Scottie Barnes aka future face of the league?

(and Pascal Siakam is the reason the Raptors even came up on that podcast, most media people don't talk about middling lottery teams)

[DreamTeam09]

If it's RJ + GD + picks that makes sense. Who that player is intriguing.

JA, maybe that makes sense. IQ + GD + filler
Giannis - I don't think that's enough, nor would I trade Barnes if that was the option.
JJJ would be perfect & makes sense.
Jabari isn't a big fish but he makes sense
Anyone else who would be perfect I don't see moving or being available to us