The regular season is winding to a close, meaning we are getting increasingly closer to not just the playoffs, but eventually, the offseason. As basketball enthusiasts, the offseason is the climax that changes the trajectory of the new year, and if you’re a fan of the Toronto Raptors, you’ve seen this story before. Blockbuster signings, shocking trades, and the ”all-in” moves that help a team atop the daring rankings of the NBA. The Raptors’ 2019 title run is a prime example of an aggressive front office trading for a generational superstar in Kawhi Leonard, transforming a generic playoff contender into world champions.
That magical feeling is awaiting once again for the ”6ix” and this offseason, we could see history repeat itself with Giannis Antetokounmpo. For years, rumors have been brewing of Giannis requesting a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee panicked, acquiring Damian Lillard in 2023 from Portland (later traded in 2025) and Myles Turner last offseason from Indiana.
It‘s getting dark in Milwaukee, which is why I‘d argue the Raptors should consider pursuing Giannis this offseason.
Why the Toronto Raptors Must Acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo
Proven Playoff Success
We are currently halfway into the 2020‘s, and the Toronto Raptors have only reached the playoffs twice: in 2020 (defeated by Celtics in seven games) and 2022 (defeated by 76ers in six), making it once in the Scottie Barnes era. Toronto is expected to reach the playoffs this season; however, for a team lacking star power, they can always improve.
Trading for Giannis revitalizes the Raptors as a whole, bringing in a load of playoff experience and success. In his 13-year career, Antetokounmpo has reached the Eastern Conference Finals twice, with 2021 being the year of Milwaukee‘s remarkable championship run.
The Defensive Recovery
In the modern NBA, “scramble” defense is everything. When a defender gets beat, the rest of the team has to rotate, which is why a duo of Jakob Poeltl and Giannis just makes sense.
Antetokounmpo has the recovery to switch in and out of the paint in order to contest a three-pointer or a midrange jumper, while blocking a shot attempt all in one possession. On top of that, Giannis boasts a 6’11” frame while Poeltl possesses a 7’2″ wingspan to block shots at an elite level. Ironically enough, we are seeing this same scheme in San Antonio with Luke Kornet and Victor Wembanyama, and look at how that is going.
If a trade like this occurs, we could consider the duo as Toronto’s ”Twin Towers,” leaving opposing offenses with little room to generate points.
Gravitational-Like Pull on Offense
In today‘s NBA, teams usually have one or two ”rim threats.” Pairing Giannis with Barnes and Brandon Ingram would fix this. Essentially, if Ingram drives to the basket, the defense must stay glued to Barnes and Antetokounmpo. This leaves BI with either a wide open lane or a simpler 10-foot jumper. You aren’t winning with shooting but instead with a physical presence.
The Last Word
Trading for Giannis — while retaining both Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes — is more than a generic roster move or “Superteam”; it‘s a total pivot in the franchise’s trajectory. If Toronto has the opportunity to pair a generational star with the league’s most versatile playmakers, a second banner could appear in the rafters of ScotiaBank Arena.
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