As reported by The Athletic’s John Hollinger Wednesday, the Toronto Raptors are likely to be one among many suitors for reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks when he becomes a free agent in the summer of 2021.
Exciting news to hear if you’re a Raptors fan, but also probably very obvious given the fact that the Raptors are expected to be absolutely flush with cap space to sign a max-level free agent. That’s a distinction that’s not so distinctive when you consider most of the league is also preparing to make a run at Antetokounmpo as well.
So then, what has made Toronto stand out over the rest?
“I do think there’s a little more connecting tissue in the air with Giannis and the Raptors,” Hollinger said on Sportsnet 590 the FAN’s Good Show Thursday. “Toronto’s always seen itself as more of a destination point for international players than American players and this definitely would fall in line with that.”
Spoken by Hollinger himself, the former Memphis Grizzlies executive says the situation Milwaukee finds itself in with Antetokoumpo is tough, and could be to Toronto’s benefit.
“Until he wins a title in Milwaukee, this question will always be out there of ‘what is he going to do when his contract expires or until he signs an extension with them?’ It’s just inevitable with him,” said Hollinger. “We dealt with the same thing in Memphis with Marc [Gasol’s] free agent year even though we knew he was coming back, so I can only imagine what it’s like when there’s more doubt. This stuff is just always going to be out there until it goes away by him re-signing.
“But I think if he does decide to leave Milwaukee, I think Toronto will be one of the chief destination points for him, and I think the Raptors are aware of that, too.”
You can listen to Hollinger’s entire appearance on Good Show in the radio player above where he also touches on what the Raptors have to do to sell themselves on Antetokounmpo.
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