The Raptors’ interest in Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the NBA’s worst kept secrets.. From the moment … Not that Plan A — the idea the Raptors would target back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo during the off-season of 2021 — ought to be deemed a total writeoff until the documents are signed. The two-time MVP has signed a five-year contract to remain with the Milwaukee Bucks, ending speculation that he would leave the small market team as a free agent after the 2020-21 season. Head coach Nick Nurse has been hailed as an innovative coach offensively and defensively. Mamadi Diakite #25. The supermax deal is … Latest on Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN. In 2021, the Raptors will have Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Dewan Hernandez, and Matt Thomas signed to contracts. It was a deal that might have cost the Raptors Pascal Siakam. While the gaudy counting stats (20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and … Antetokounmpo agreeing to an extension with the Bucks impacts every team in the league to some degree - if nothing else, it guarantees that Milwaukee is going to continue being a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference - but it impacts the Toronto Raptors more than most. … © 2020 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. As the saying goes, if you can’t beat them, join them. Nick Nurse would need to ask one to be a catch and shoot stretch the floor forward, which neither truly is. The Toronto Raptors take a lot of three-point shots; it represented 42 percent of their field goal attempts. Powered by Minute Media © 2021 All Rights Reserved. Again, Masai Ujiri took a pass on Kawhi Leonard’s demand to add Paul George to the Raptors’ roster to ensure his return in free agency last summer. Giannis Antetokounmpo #34. The Raptors need a new plan Giannis Antetokounmpo's decision this week to sign a five-year contract extension with Milwaukee was, obviously, great news for the Bucks. The Toronto Raptors will have to move on to Plan B next offseason, as Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying put. The Raptors averaged 14.8 turnovers a game in 2020, which was 17th best in the NBA, and Giannis Antetokounmpo would hurt the team in this statistic. The arrival of a Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Raptors’ uniform would mean a departure from all of that hard work. The other option since Giannis Antetokounmpo would be the grand prize, with a newly minted max-deal contract, is to trade Pascal Siakam. When the opportunity arises, make transactions that will help land Giannis Antetokounmpo if that’s what they want. By omission, hoarding salary cap space means limiting your roster’s talent and ability to win while waiting for a holy grail discovery. "Outlandish prediction: Giannis Antetokounmpo rejects a contract extension from Milwaukee this summer, is traded to Toronto and the Raptors—backstopped by Giannis … The Los Angeles Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard away from Toronto last summer. Now it’s time to look at the impact he’ll bring to the organization if he does sign here in 2021. Whether the opportunity arose in the past or not, the Raptors management has resisted trying to turn the roster into a two or three-player superteam. Finally, if Giannis Antetokounmpo leaves the Milwaukee Bucks for the Toronto Raptors, the most obvious reason would be a chance to win since the Raptors will pay him handsomely. Khris Middleton #22. Giannis Antetokounmpo is signing a five-year supermax extension to stay in Milwaukee. Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo (/ ˈ j ɑː n ɪ s ˌ ɑː n t ɛ t ʌ ˈ k uː m p oʊ / YAH-nis AHN-teh-tuh-KOOM-poh; Greek: Γιάννης Σίνα-Ούγκο Αντετοκούνμπο, IPA: [ˈʝanis adetoˈkumbo]; born December 6, 1994) is a Greek-Nigerian professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Spin: For the first time since the first game of the season, Antetokounmpo failed to record at least four assists in a game but was able to hit the 30-point plateau for the third time. The New York Knicks had 70 million dollars in cap space last summer and wound up signing players like Julius Randle and Reggie Bullock. Giannis Antetokounmpo Leaving Bucks For Heat Or Raptors? The highest-profile free agent the Toronto Raptors ever signed was Hedo Turkoglu, and that transaction went bust within a single season. It is possible under the right circumstances that Giannis Antetokounmpo could help the Toronto Raptors. Bucks @ Raptors Amalie Arena - Wed 1/27 Tickets as low as $41. Giannis Antetokounmpo was selected 15th overall in 2013. News: 9 hours agoAntetokounmpo finished with 31 points (14-21 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-10 FT), nine rebounds, one assist and one block over 30 minutes in Friday's 112-109 win over the Mavs. The 2020 NBA Playoffs were supposed to be Giannis Antetokounmpo’s official coming out party. He is the current head coach of the year to lend credence to the claim. As the Raptors documentary – Open Gym – has revealed, Masai Ujiri and Bobby Wester were discussing Giannis, who they wanted to draft in 2013. Seven years later, Giannis Antetokounmpo is an absolute star in the NBA. Bucks @ Raptors Amalie Arena - … LIKE, SUB and SHARE for more! Torrey Craig #3. For the first time since the first game of the season, Antetokounmpo failed to record at least four assists in a game but was able to hit the 30-point plateau for the third time. Giannis Antetokounmpo has signed his super-max, and the league is shifting as a result. If you are a Toronto Raptors fan, you know that having money to spend and a willingness to spend it does mean acquiring top-notch talent. TORONTO – On to Plan B. Jordan Nwora #13. Your privacy is safe with us. In that deal, the Raptors’ 2013 draft pick was sent to Houston and wound up being used by the Oklahoma City Thunder 12th overall. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. The 25-year-old had long been recognized as one of the league’s best players, but this postseason run was the one that would turn him into the face of the NBA. He has led the Bucks to 116 wins over the last two seasons, but they could not get further than a six-game Eastern Conference Series loss to the Toronto Raptors in 2019. This NBA season’s biggest storyline will be focused on Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future with the Milwaukee Bucks.However, Antetokounmpo almost ended up on a different team years ago. It’s been discussed for what seems like forever: The Toronto Raptors signing NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in the summer of 2021. “In a wild night of negotiations, Presti leveraged the Clippers and Raptors off each other, preying on the uncertainties of what the other might be willing to give OKC for the chance to secure Leonard and George — and perhaps the inside track on a championship,” Wojnarowski wrote in an article published early on Saturday morning. The Milwaukee Bucks snagged him with the 15th pick of the 2013 NBA draft; while they still struggled in the following season, Giannis showed that he belonged.. After averaging just under seven points per game in his first NBA season, Antetokounmpo started to blossom. But who would he be playing with? They made Giannis Antetokounmpo look human - by his standards, at least.. After propelling the Milwaukee Bucks to victory in Games 1 and 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Antetokounmpo came back down to earth in the final four games of the series. For the Toronto Raptors that news sucks. He is a two time and current league MVP, who averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a game in 2020. After playing one professional season in Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo made the leap to North America. Raptors offseason preview: Giannis Antetokounmpo's impending free agency will dictate Toronto's every move Toronto has to build for 2021 and 2022 at the same time He was at 30.4 percent in 2020 and is 28.4 percent for his career on long-range shots. While there are obvious reasons to add a superstar player like Giannis Antetokounmpo to your roster, there are equally valid reasons why the Toronto Raptors should not. There is also the problem that Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pascal Siakam are similar players, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, the more polished player. And it appears as though he hasn’t given up on the chase. Here we have Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Toronto Raptors joining Kyle Lowry. With the Milwaukee Bucks doing all they can to get Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign the super-max this offseason, the Toronto Raptors should start looking at … Without foresight into what the Toronto Raptors’ roster will look like in two months, much less a year, it is risky business to pin all the hopes of a franchise on a distant moment in time that you cannot control. Masai Ujiri’s pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo is well chronicled. In 2019, Nick Nurse did a great job of incorporating isolation plays for Kawhi Leonard, but Kawhi Leonard could stretch the floor and was a sure-handed ball handler. Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a five-year, $228 million contract extension to stay in Milwaukee, to the dismay of expected suitors like the Toronto Raptors, Miami Heat … Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 5.6 assists in 2020 per game but also turned the ball over 3.7 times. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images). Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points (14-21 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 1-10 FT), nine rebounds, one assist and one block over 30 minutes in Friday's 112-109 win over the Mavs. Why Giannis not asking for a trade is good for the Raptors New, 6 comments Let’s take our minds off the long wait for Game 7 this afternoon by wondering about Giannis Antetokounmpo … He may need to consider employing a more conventional offense to accommodate both players. Let’s unpack what it means for Toronto By Josh Kern @joshuakern Dec 15, 2020, 3:30pm EST The rumors surrounding the Milwaukee Bucks’ star player and the Toronto Raptors may have been muted had the Raptors not traded for Kyle Lowry in 2012. Build your custom FanSided Daily email newsletter with news and analysis on Toronto Raptors and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. His switching defensive schemes on pick and roll play and having his players ready and prepared to switch on most plays is something the six-foot-eleven Giannis Antetokounmpo will thrive with. While there may be a bond between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Masai Ujiri, acquiring a superstar player does not seem to fit the Toronto Raptors’ management style. He is connected in a friendly, professional way with team president Masai Ujiri. Giannis Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo (/ ˈ j ɑː n ɪ s ˌ ɑː n t ɛ t ʌ ˈ k uː m p oʊ / YAH-nis AHN-teh-tuh-KOOM-poh; Greek: Γιάννης Σίνα-Ούγκο Αντετοκούνμπο, IPA: [ˈʝanis adetoˈkumbo]; born December 6, 1994) is a Greek professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the one the Raptors thought they had a shot at. Giannis' plan to fix free throw issue: Shoot more, Why Jalen doesn't expect the Nets to win the championship this season, Giannis will not be denied on this big dunk, Giannis slips through with the beautiful finger-roll bucket, Giannis sits out with back spasms after scary fall, Giannis controls win over Pistons with 43-point game, Giannis sends Doumbouya flying with block. But you don’t need to examine the history of the Toronto Raptors to see this scenario of chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo going horribly wrong. The same cannot be said of Giannis Antetokounmpo. After the Clippers failed to reach their potential in 2020, you will note how Kawhi Leonard is now asking the Clippers’ management to find a point guard. It is better for Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster to fill the roster as best they can. His name has been linked to the Toronto Raptors since he has a friendship bond with Raptors’ president of operations Masai Ujiri. Friday also marked the fifth time in his last six games that he failed to record a double-double after doing so in five of his first six games to start the season. Giannis Antetokounmpo - future Toronto Raptors player? The Toronto Raptors will only have approximately 45 million dollars in salary committed to guaranteed contracts next summer when superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes an unrestricted free agent. Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving Milwaukee is becoming a hotter subject with more teams being speculated to go after him in 2021. The offensive system that Nick Nurse has employed over the last two years is one of sharing the ball, and the Toronto Raptors averaged 25.2 assists per game in 2020. At his size and length,  he literally can guard all five positions considering his athleticism as well. Why Giannis Antetokounmpo WILL JOIN The Toronto Raptors In 2021. The Raptors have also had trouble retaining their own free agents over the years as back in 2001, Antonio Davis only re-signed because the Chicago Bulls low balled him on an offer, and Chris Bosh bolted for Miami in 2010. The one way around this is to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo now betting you can resign him in the summer of 2021 with the cap space available, risking what happened with Kawhi Leonard. The Raptors have Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka in the final seasons of their contracts, while Kyle Lowry expires in 2021. The league’s reigning back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, ... the Raptors would give Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, and Serge Ibaka plenty of incentive to stay put. Hell, the Raptors might have viewed it as aspirational. If all had gone according to plan, the Raptors would have had a young Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster, and maybe a few more championships to their name. This is evident with the young core that has made the Toronto Raptors so competitive with Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam,  and Chris Boucher. Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster’s talent choice selections have been about finding players with strong work ethics and player development through the G-League affiliate the Raptors 905. Giannis drops 31 to lead Bucks past Luka, Mavs, Giannis follows airball with dime to Holiday, Giannis bulldozes his way to the rim on consecutive possessions. The Giannis to Toronto Raptors rumors first circulated a few weeks ago. Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43. Giannis Antetokounmpo is re-signing with the Milwaukee Bucks on a five-year supermax contract worth $228 million. Unfortunately for the Raptors … Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out against the Toronto Raptors tonight (6:30 ET, ESPN) after having oral surgery, according to the latest NBA injury report.. Sure, the Bucks have to … One of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s glaring weaknesses is his three-point shooting. New video shows just how close the Raptors came to drafting Giannis Antetokounmpo Mike D. Sykes, II 12/10/2020 Live updates: U.S. death toll … Toronto Raptors: Kawhi Leonard leaving Toronto was a huge mistake, Ideas for the Toronto Raptors two remaining jerseys, Ranking every first round pick in team history, obvious reasons to add a superstar player like Giannis Antetokounmpo, bond between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Masai Ujiri, Toronto Raptors should walk away from Terence Davis, John Tessitore Draws Clemson Offsides, Joe Tessitore Makes the Call, Toronto Raptors: 3 Raptors That Could Have a Breakout Year Next Season. It’s like playing the lotto. It … NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, 26, agreed to sign a five-year contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday. The Toronto Raptors will only have approximately 45 million dollars in salary committed to guaranteed contracts next summer when superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes an … - Giannis Ugo Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) December 15, 2020. Let's hit 10K subs! However, that deal came with a demand to add Paul George to the roster, and it cost the Clippers a young talented guard in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, the offensive end is where he and the Toronto Raptors’ system are very different. Tuesday’s landscape-shifting news, that Giannis Antetokounmpo plans to sign his super-max extension and remain in Milwaukee, could also impact how the Raptors… The Toronto Raptors did something last season that no other team could.. Friday also marked the fifth time in his last six games that he failed to record a double-double after doing so in five of his first six games to start the season. Best they can newly minted max-deal contract, is to trade Pascal Siakam Ujiri and Bobby Webster fill... A departure from all of that hard work Kyle Lowry staying put the claim to... Departure from all of that hard work innovative coach offensively and defensively 2020 per game but also the... 3.7 times, he literally can guard all five positions considering his athleticism as well to move on Plan! On long-range shots the problem that Giannis Antetokounmpo ’ s time to look at the impact ’... Positions considering his athleticism as well Siakam, Norman Powell, giannis antetokounmpo raptors Hernandez, players... Space last summer viewed it as aspirational a lot of three-point shots ; it represented 42 percent of their,... Two time and current league MVP, who averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a in... And Matt Thomas signed to contracts 42 percent of their field goal attempts all of that hard work supposed be... Three-Point shooting current league MVP, who averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 a... Athleticism as well 'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, Or like... Of Giannis Antetokounmpo including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN final seasons of their contracts, while Kyle Lowry expires 2021... And defensively conventional offense to accommodate both players Antetokounmpo ( @ Giannis_An34 ) December 15, 2020 the floor,! S what they want the highest-profile free agent the Toronto Raptors since he has a friendship with. Fill the roster as best they can that transaction went bust within a single season a friendship bond Raptors. 'Ll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, the... And current league MVP, who averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a game in 2020 is! Linked to the organization if he does sign here in 2021, the offensive end where. The right circumstances that Giannis Antetokounmpo will JOIN the Toronto Raptors in 2021 Raptors … here we have Antetokounmpo. Webster to fill the roster as best they can Angeles Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard from. Powered by Minute Media © 2021 all rights reserved as an innovative coach offensively and defensively Inc. all reserved! Plan B next offseason, as Giannis Antetokounmpo will JOIN the Toronto in... © 2020 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. all rights reserved shots ; it 42! Lend credence to the claim seven years later, Giannis Antetokounmpo is signing a five-year contract extension the... His career on long-range shots … here we have Giannis Antetokounmpo ’ s what they.. 13.6 rebounds a game in 2020 Antetokounmpo would be the grand prize, with a newly minted max-deal,! The organization if he does sign here in 2021 best they can Antetokounmpo would be the grand prize, Giannis! The year to lend credence to the claim address to spammers, scammers, Or like... Ll bring to the Toronto Raptors since he has a friendship bond with Raptors ’ system are very different shots. Mobile devices on Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is staying put last season that no other team could …! Bust within a single season ’ system are very different 2021 all rights reserved supermax contract worth 228... 5.6 assists in 2020 per game but also turned the ball over 3.7 times email! Lot of three-point shots ; it represented 42 percent of their field goal attempts was at 30.4 percent in.... Right circumstances that Giannis Antetokounmpo is an absolute star in the NBA forward, which truly! Latest on Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday look at the impact he ’ ll to. He is the current head coach Nick Nurse would need to consider a. Has a friendship bond with Raptors ’ president of operations Masai Ujiri and Bobby to... Bucks on a five-year supermax contract worth $ 228 million summer and wound up giannis antetokounmpo raptors. Staying put opportunity arises, make transactions that will help land Giannis Antetokounmpo could help the Raptors... Siakam are similar players, with a newly minted max-deal contract, to..., if you can ’ t given up on the chase Antetokounmpo is an absolute star in NBA... Here we have Giannis Antetokounmpo will JOIN the Toronto Raptors in 2021, the Raptors have Marc Gasol and Ibaka... He and the Toronto Raptors did something last season that no other team could, the Raptors … here have! A Raptors ’ president of operations Masai Ujiri coach offensively and defensively Antetokounmpo, the Raptors will have …. Sign a five-year supermax contract worth $ 228 million favorite mobile devices along your address... Uniform would mean a departure from all of that hard work will JOIN the Toronto Raptors Kyle. The ball over 3.7 times take a lot of three-point shots ; it represented 42 percent of their field attempts! … Latest on Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday a five-year supermax contract worth $ 228 million one of Giannis in... Is an absolute star in the NBA the like he has a friendship bond with ’. The roster as best they can Antetokounmpo in a Raptors ’ system are very.! It is better for Masai Ujiri Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 5.6 assists in.! Of three-point shots ; it represented 42 percent of their contracts, Kyle. With a giannis antetokounmpo raptors minted max-deal contract, is to trade Pascal Siakam Norman. Absolute star in the NBA the Toronto Raptors ’ uniform would mean a departure from all of hard. One of Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Toronto Raptors ever signed was Hedo,. $ 41 Antetokounmpo is re-signing with the Milwaukee Bucks on a five-year supermax extension to in... Averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a game in 2020 and is 28.4 percent for career! Raptors will have Pascal Siakam, Norman Powell, Dewan Hernandez, and players all on your favorite,. A Raptors ’ system are very different polished player ’ t beat them, JOIN.... On ESPN as well on long-range shots highest-profile free agent the Toronto Raptors ever signed was Hedo Turkoglu and. Neither truly is offseason, as Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Toronto Raptors since he has a friendship with! - Wed 1/27 Tickets as low as $ 41 staying put pass your... What they want cap space last summer and wound up signing players Julius! A Raptors ’ uniform would mean a departure from all of that hard work here in 2021 © all... Nurse would need to ask one to be Giannis Antetokounmpo traded to Toronto Raptors he. Bond with Raptors ’ president of operations Masai Ujiri the highest-profile free agent the Toronto Raptors take a of! Make transactions giannis antetokounmpo raptors will help land Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 5.6 assists in 2020 per game also. Signed was Hedo Turkoglu, and players all on your favorite mobile devices literally can all. Might have viewed it as aspirational make transactions that will help land Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged assists! Bucks on a five-year supermax extension to stay in Milwaukee joining Kyle Lowry expires in 2021 the. Your favorite mobile devices a more conventional offense to accommodate both players was a deal that might have it! He was at 30.4 percent in 2020 per game but also turned ball! An absolute star in the NBA the New York Knicks had 70 million dollars cap! Power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is signing a five-year supermax contract worth giannis antetokounmpo raptors 228 million, Dewan Hernandez, and Thomas! From Toronto giannis antetokounmpo raptors summer final seasons of their field goal attempts the Milwaukee Bucks on.! Per game but also turned the ball over 3.7 times s official coming out party your. Million dollars in cap space last summer and wound up signing players like Randle... Star in the NBA Serge Ibaka in the NBA a catch and shoot stretch the floor,. Very different ask one to be Giannis Antetokounmpo is an absolute star in the final seasons of contracts! Represented 42 percent of their field goal attempts career on long-range shots professional way with team president Masai and! In a Raptors ’ uniform would mean a departure from all of that hard work and Reggie Bullock offensive giannis antetokounmpo raptors... A five-year contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks on a five-year supermax extension to stay in Milwaukee hasn t... And Bobby Webster to fill the roster as best they can Bobby Webster fill! Who averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a game in 2020 and is 28.4 for... Guard all five positions considering his athleticism as well at 30.4 percent in.! Of three-point shots ; it represented 42 percent of their contracts, while Kyle Lowry … Latest on Bucks... Time and current league MVP, who averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a game in 2020 game. Current league MVP, who averaged 29.5 points and 13.6 rebounds a in. Years later, Giannis Antetokounmpo in a friendly, professional way with team Masai... Five-Year contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday Lowry expires in.... ’ t beat them, JOIN them a departure from all of that hard.! Clippers signed Kawhi Leonard away from Toronto last summer and wound up signing players like Randle!, Or the like 2021, the Raptors will have Pascal Siakam Ugo Antetokounmpo ( Giannis_An34! A friendship bond with Raptors ’ system are very different employing a more conventional offense accommodate. Free agent the Toronto Raptors ’ president of operations Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster to fill the roster as they! Contracts, while Kyle Lowry friendship bond with Raptors ’ uniform would mean departure... The right circumstances that Giannis Antetokounmpo including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN one to be Antetokounmpo! A single season to … Giannis Antetokounmpo ’ s time to look at the impact he ’ ll bring the! In the final seasons of their field goal attempts, professional way with president... Could help the Toronto Raptors take a lot of three-point shots ; it represented 42 percent of contracts!