- The Raptors have been mentioned as a team in both the Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes
- Lillard has requested a trade while Antetokounmpo might want out next year
- NBA fans reacted to the two potentially ending up in Toronto
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are two of the best players in the NBA, but both don’t appear too happy about their current situations. Lillard has handed in a trade request while Giannis could be wanting out this time next year, and a team that has been linked with both of them is the Toronto Raptors. The thought of a potential “master plan” from the Raptors to land both of them was floated on X.
Toronto’s master plan? 👀 pic.twitter.com/5GLDM1oOgW
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 23, 2023
NBA fans reacted to the possibility of this superstar duo forming in Toronto.
One says there is no way they can pull it off.
No way this gets pulled off
— Street Clothes 🧢 (@LeCap623) September 23, 2023
A fan wants Kawhi back in Toronto too.
Kawhi coming back too! 😍
— The Dude (@LevinBurant) September 23, 2023
One joked that there is a better chance of Kevin Durant winning a real ring.
More chance of KD winning a real ring
— Ellis🥋 (@elIisburner) September 23, 2023
This would be the craziest plan ever, said one fan.
The craziest plan ever
— SMOOOTH👑 (@TripleOSmoooth) September 23, 2023
A Raptors fan would love for this to happen but doesn’t see how.
https://twitter.com/its_deego/status/1705672716714475809
The Raptors have expressed an interest in Lillard and have been mentioned as a dark horse in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
REPORT: NBA executive believes “no one would be in a better position to get [Giannis] than OKC… and two other dark horses: San Antonio and Toronto.”
(via @SeanDeveney, https://t.co/loSTthf6b5) pic.twitter.com/W1RmGiTNOP
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 29, 2023
If they can indeed execute this “master plan” the Raptors would become title favorites. Can they though?
Is There Any Way For The Raptors To Pull This Off?
The only way the Raptors can get these two is via trades, as it will be a while before they enter free agency. Antetokounmpo is under contract through 2024-25 and has a player option for 2025-26. Lillard, meanwhile, is under contract through 2025-26 and has a player option for 2026-27.
With trades being the only option, I really don’t see a scenario where they can land both of them. The Raptors have some good pieces in Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, and O.G. Anunoby, but all their assets wouldn’t be enough to land both superstars. They can potentially get one of them, not both.
I honestly don’t think there’s any team that can land them both, except for the Oklahoma City Thunder perhaps, as they have a ton of draft picks and young players.
Could The Raptors Be Contenders With Antetokounmpo Or Lillard?
If the Raptors do end up landing one of the two at some point, they could be contenders in the Eastern Conference. How much would they have to give up, though, is the question. If they can find a way to land Lillard or Giannis and keep two of Siakam, Barnes, and Anunoby, I think they’d have a shot at winning the East.
One of the issues I’ve found for the Raptors since Kawhi Leonard left, is that they haven’t had that elite scoring option. They do quite a few things well but haven’t really had that player who can go get a bucket at any time. Lillard or Giannis would certainly help with that.
Lillard averaged an impressive 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game last season. His outside shooting would be huge for the Raptors, and they are a team that is best suited to cover his biggest weakness as well, which is defense.
As for Giannis, he put up 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game last season. The spacing might be a bit of an issue if Antetokounmpo comes over, but they might just become the best defensive team in the league by a fair bit if he arrives.
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