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

[LoveMyRaps]

Had a dream we got Giannis. But Scottie got traded too.

[MiamiSPX]

It’s funny how people want to tank and spends years in the dumps. When the chances of getting a MVP talent is probably harder than getting 3 first overall-all picks.

Even if we got Cooper Flagg I don’t think he becomes a MVP like Giannis type of player.

When you get a chance to acquire a perennial MVP calibre player you always go for it. The Bucks even turned down the Mavs for Luka.

Giving up Barnes is a small price to pay to get Giannis.

I think the Raps are well positioned. It I’m the Bucks picks is one thing, but to secure a 23 year old allstar is the surest thing for your team.

People keep saying that Houston, Spurs and OKC can outbid.

Houston I see as the only threat.

I’m not convinced Spurs move Castle and I wouldn’t say he is near the value of Barnes.

If I’m OKc no reason to break the chemistry and 3 headed monster of Chet, SGA and Jalen. Especially if they win it. They rather keep the salary flexibility being a small market team.

I think it comes down to Sengun versus Barnes. Green and other guys plus picks I don’t think is a more attractive package.

Cleveland probably tries a Garland and Allen for Giannis and Brook type of deal. But if I’m the bucks. I’m not sure I prefer that over like a Barnes and RJ or Barnes and IQ deal.

So Raps will be well positioned.

Well, we are "well positioned" because you are hypothesizing that nobody will offer anything good, and we will offer anything. We do not know either of those things to be true. I also wouldn't be so sure that the Bucks would covet Barnes over Sengun. One is coming off an All-Star season being one of the top guys on a 52-win team. The other is coming off a forgettable season, for both he and the team he "leads". Sengun also makes less per season and the total contract is significantly less.

[Boardbreaker]

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Should we start celebrating too soon or not....The only way a deal gets done is IF Giannis chooses us i think...Theres a chance now at least.

Our local media is pretty clueless about this sort of thing though and if it's coming from ol Dougie boy then expect the opposite to happen

[MiamiSPX]

Is there a deal where:

Bucks get their swap and pick back from NO in 2026 and 27 plus get Zion, and some 1st from Raps.

NOP get Barnes for those picks/swap and wipe hands of Zion.

Raps get Giannis

Bucks get to tank if they want but also get Zion as a "draw" for fans. And can choose to walk away from him anytime given how his contract is. Or maybe his value gets rebuilt and they are able to move him for more assets later.

NOP gets the guarantee of Barnes instead of a possibility of picks and essentially walk away from Zion.

Raps obviously upgrade

This would be the core of the deal and obviously there might be other additions...maybe Dick to NOP for example.

That's a tough sell to the fans. trading one of the highest characters guys in the game, who is also a devoted family man and the most charitable guy to play in MIL.......for Zion. I can't see that, even with them dangling their picks back.

[PushDaRock]

Giannis would be bucking every trend if he stayed longer than his contract. Durant walked after multiple chips next to a hall of famer. Same for LeBron, lasted 4 years with the Heat (with LA being his retirement home).

Mercenary hunting doesn't lead to much loyalty. And we have nowhere near the cushy environments/running mates those teams had.

Likely scenario is Giannis gives you his 2 years and then hits FA where many teams are lining up cap space for him to walk into.

Any trades you make have to factor in that reality. Keep your 2027 and beyond picks if you can.

The days of teams opening up a max slot for premiere FA's are over. The last big FA signing was Kawhi and that was 6 years ago.

It's just become unnecessary when players can just secure the bag without risking injury and then just ask for a trade and have a lot of influence over where they end up.

Don't tell that to the Clippers/Nets/Heat (likely Lakers too) who made a number of moves to make sure they have that cap space in 2027 (The SGA/Giannis year, maybe even Luka).

Big FA years are on the calendar and big markets prepare accordingly.

Cool, let's see if any of them make it to Free Agency

[Clutch0z24]

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Should we start celebrating too soon or not....The only way a deal gets done is IF Giannis chooses us i think...Theres a chance now at least.

Our local media is pretty clueless about this sort of thing though and if it's coming from ol Dougie boy then expect the opposite to happen

Yeah its hard to say its a legit report or not....But there might be at least traction there....There is at least a chance where as when The Bucks/Giannis trade rumors started i thought there is no chance at all....All we can hope for is that Giannis puts us as one of the top destinations...

[nestea]

https://basketnews.com/news-225531-giannis-antetokounmpo-reportedly-linked-to-toronto-raptors.html

[M3tro]

Welcome home, Giannis

[nestea]

Had a dream we got Giannis. But Scottie got traded too.

It is what it is. Guess you look at projection. What will Scottie be down the line.

[tsherkin]

Had a dream we got Giannis. But Scottie got traded too.

It is what it is. Guess you look at projection. What will Scottie be down the line.

That's a good dream!

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Sandman88]

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

Booker? Ja?

Lamelo

[Sandman88]

Also, I see the usual names being mentioned when it comes to "big Fish," but one name I don't see as often is Trae Young.

I think Trae Young would be a lethal fit next to Ingram/Scottie/Poetl and the offensive/explosive PG we need. The hawks are in a bind right now with no clear-cut direction at all.

They badly need a re-build

Agreed on the offensive fit, but he would be targeted on the other end and I’m not sure we’d be able to hide his defensive weaknesses.

[Sandman88]

Although it may not be the popular choice on here personally I get the feeling they'll target KD more seriously than Giannis due to the asking price and being that Masai was trying to find a way to trade into the draft for him....I think they'll also low-key be after LaMelo.

Wonder how our starting 5 would shake out with KD, Ingram and Scottie. I guess Scottie would have to be the 5 since none of them would be ideal 2’s

[LiSTWithLani]

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)

Scottie was likely never going to be a number 1, that's not his game. But what does this make him? A 23 year old capable of getting 20 a night on elite defense and playmaking... I mean lol

Right, we're watching Indiana roll out something very similar, where their star is a pass-first player.
Obviously, Barnes doesn't have his or Jokic's savant-like passing, but he is way further ahead on the other side of the ball.

It's actually funny. I'd love to see us go back to vision 6'9". We didn't do it right, but it definitely has merit.

Rather than watching guys get put on an island, because they aren't big enough or fast enough to keep up, we should continue to target the flexibility and switchability of the Barnes/ Ingram/ Anunoby/ Siakam of the world.

Spoiler:

Bring back Caboclo

[CPT]

Domantas Sabonis +500
Giannis Antetokounmpo +600
Zach LaVine +600
DeMar DeRozan +800
Jrue Holiday +900
Jamal Murray +1000
Lauri Markkanen +1400
Kevin Durant +1800
Jaren Jackson Jr. +2000
Devin Booker +2500
Ja Morant +3300
Nikola Jokic +one billion

It’s really weird that the list is basically split between guys I want but don’t think we could get, and guys that I probably wouldn’t take for free.

It’s also weird that despite knowing it’s a terrible idea… I kinda want Ja Morant? I just think it would be fun.

[Sandman88]

I wish Miami would blow it up because I'd love to be in on Bam

I also wonder about Embiid. African connection. Embiid can't feel good about going to war with a Washed Paul George. Philly has no direction

Wouldn’t feel good about embiid’s knees/ankles

[ciueli]

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Interesting that the Sabonis odds are that high, I guess the Kings are blowing it up and going the pick collecting route.

[TravisScott55]

Going after Giannis would gut the team, and not leave them with enough to be a contender after

[Duffman100]

Going after Giannis would gut the team, and not leave them with enough to be a contender after

I thought that with the Durant/Dame rumours of the past.

I don't think it's nearly as bad now.