According to a Toronto Star story, there’s mutual interest between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Raptors. So what would it take to acquire the Bucks superstar?
Josh Lewenberg of TSN tackles that subject with the biggest unknown being whether Toronto would be willing to part with its biggest star, Scottie Barnes. Thus far, the Raptors’ front office has been unwilling to discuss Barnes in any trade scenario.
Lewenberg speculates that any preliminary offer from the Raptors wouldn’t include Barnes. Instead, they would offer a package of picks, prospects, and salary filler, similar to what they offered Portland for Damian Lillard two years ago. Could a package of RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick or Ja’Kobe Walter and a handful of future first-round picks get it done? Lewenberg doubts that, believing other teams could top that offer unless Toronto is willing to part with Barnes.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Kristaps Porzingis has a $30.7MM salary in the final year of his deal and the Celtics are expected to shed salary this offseason. Brian Robb of Masslive.com makes some hypothetical trades proposals, speculating what Boston might receive back from Detroit, both Los Angeles teams, Utah, Portland and Brooklyn for Porzingis.
- The Sixers’ blueprint to a championship appears to be obsolete, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes. Philadelphia tried to old formula of stacking superstars by signing Paul George last summer to a max deal to join forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. However, the Thunder and Pacers took a very different route, relying on young, versatile, athletic players without breaking the bank.
- The Sixers will retain Toure Murry as a player development coach, Hoops Hype’s Michael Scotto tweets. Murry, who played 51 games with the Knicks in 2013/14, joined the Sixers staff prior to the 2023/24 season.