The Toronto Raptors might become a surprisingly pivotal player during the 2025 offseason.
Toronto has been on the decline since winning it all in 2019. The franchise is aiming to reclaim its place among the NBA’s elite after finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 30-52 record in the 2024-25 season.
Maybe the Raptors are no longer content to slow-play their rebuild.
With a roster featuring rising star Scottie Barnes and newly extended Brandon Ingram, Toronto has the assets and ambition to pursue a game-changing superstar.
Recent reports and shifting betting odds suggest the Raptors are uniquely positioned to make a seismic splash, potentially reshaping the franchise’s future in a wide-open Eastern Conference.
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Toronto’s front office, led by president Masai Ujiri, has a history of bold moves, most notably the 2018 trade for Kawhi Leonard that delivered the franchise’s first NBA championship.
Now, whispers around the league point to a new target, with the Raptors emerging as a serious contender to land a generational talent.
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report captured the growing buzz, stating, “We can't ignore the reports from Doug Smith of the Toronto Star and Brian Windhorst of ESPN, whose combined effect suggests the Toronto Raptors are legitimate threats to acquire Giannis (Antetokounmpo) if the two-time MVP asks to leave the Bucks."
"Toronto is also the new betting favorite to land the two-time MVP if he changes teams, which makes it impossible to consider nominating anyone else for this spot," Hughes continued. "The Raptors are short on shooting and spacing as it is, and Antetokounmpo would make for an odd fit next to Scottie Barnes. But when a player as dominant as Giannis (potentially) becomes available, you get him and figure out the rest later. Especially in the wide-open East, the Raptors have every incentive to go out and get a player who'd completely revamp the franchise.”
The Milwaukee Bucks’ situation fuels the speculation. After three consecutive first-round playoff exits and Damian Lillard’s season-ending Achilles injury, the Bucks face uncertainty, despite Antetokounmpo’s stellar 2024-25 campaign (30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 60.1 percent FG).
Reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania indicate Antetokounmpo is exploring other options.
The Raptors’ long-standing interest in Antetokounmpo, dating back to Ujiri’s efforts to secure his family’s Greek citizenship and a 2013 draft trade attempt, adds credibility to the mutual interest.
Toronto’s trade package could include young talents like RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, and Ja’Kobe Walter, plus multiple first-round picks, including the No. 9 overall selection in 2025.
While Scottie Barnes is likely untouchable, his inclusion could be necessary, and Hughes notes the Barnes fit alongside Antetokounmpo might be clunky due to spacing issues, anyway.
Toronto’s assets and Ujiri’s track record make them a formidable player in the sweepstakes.
While Antetokounmpo has not formally requested a trade, the Raptors are poised to strike if he does. With the East ripe for the taking, landing the two-time MVP could catapult Toronto back to contention.
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