The Toronto Raptors have already shown signs of building for the future after extending Pascal Siakam and working to trot out their young players. But they could also have a card under their sleeve, as one of several teams poised to make a run for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021.
According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, the Raptors could still make a playoff push this season, giving them enough time to gauge their potential situation, as veterans like Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka are currently on expiring contracts at the end of this 2019-20 season.
“There is one giant, long-armed Greek shadow looming over every decision this franchise makes. Sources say the Raptors are likely to be one of the chief pursuers of Giannis Antetokounmpo if and when he hits the 2021 free-agent market, so any moves that eliminate the possibility of max cap space that summer would be extremely unlikely.”
The Raptors gave Kyle Lowry a beefy one-year, $30 million extension, which would make him tradable, should a contender want him, or even a potential flip piece going into next summer.
Many teams have looked at Antetokounmpo as the next big free agent prize, and the Raptors, who lost their lone star in Kawhi Leonard this past summer, could make the necessary adjustment to put them in the race for The Greek Freak.
Antetokounmpo has shown no signs of being willing to leave Milwaukee, but that could surely change if the Bucks fall short of a title bid in the next few years, leaving the door ever so open for the Raptors to pounce and make a move for him.
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