The Toronto Raptors missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season this year, but their future looks bright. Toronto ended the regular season as the No. 11 seed in the East and was the first team on the outside of the Play-In Tournament.
Toronto also has a young core with a lot of potential, and it has yet to see Brandon Ingram (who it acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline) suit up. However, perhaps most interestingly, there is reportedly mutual interest in a trade involving Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Raptors (h/t Doug Smith of the Toronto Star).
The Raptors have also recently been named in another trade report that could impact their status in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
While nothing is official, many believe the Bucks could move on from their top star this offseason after another first-round playoff exit. If the Bucks do entertain trade offers for him, the Raptors are a team to keep an eye on. However, they are far from the only one.
Per the latest reports, the Raptors could move away from their No. 9 spot in the NBADraft and could acquire Brooklyn Netsforward Cam Johnson, which could open the door for them to land Antetokounmpo instead.
Hearing Nets may want to move up from #19 to the lottery, offering [Cam Johnson] and #19 to Raptors or Rockets for either Raps 9th or Rockets 10th plus a bad contract,” NetsDaily wrote on X. “That would give Nets two picks in top 10 (presupposing neither team would need picks for Giannis trade.)”
With the NBA Draft set to take place later this month, it should not take too long for there to be more clarity. Regardless, both the Raptors and Nets are teams to watch out for in the Antetokounmpo market. If either of them can swing a deal for him, it would drastically change their standing in the league.
