Giannis Antetokounmpo picked Pascal Siakam pretty early in the 2020 All-Star draft. It is obviously a sign of respect, but could it also be a sign of things to come?
With Giannis due to become a free agent in the summer of 2021, there is no shortage of teams preparing for their shot to land him. The Raptors are no exception and may even be the favorites, according to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com.
“I don’t think he leaves the Bucks,” the unnamed source said, via Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. “But if he does, Toronto has to be the front-runner. Staying in Milwaukee, that’s No. 1. But if he can stand the cold, Toronto is the perfect situation for him, the next best thing.”
Giannis also has ties with front-office manager Masai Ujiri.
It helps that Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri has a long-standing connection with Antetokounmpo and his family, reportedly having helped them immigrate to Greece from Nigeria.
The Raptors have financial flexibility heading into the summer of 2021. They have a core of guys in place that will provide Giannis an opportunity to win. He has ties to the front-office that no other team except the Bucks can match.
There are certainly a number of advantages giving the Raptors an edge in the Giannis sweepstakes. With him on board, they’d likely compete for multiple Championships in the years to follow.
But they will have to beat several other teams for his services, something that is obviously much easier said than done.
