NBA Rumors: Giannis Antetokounmpo Might Be Pursued By Toronto Raptors In 2021

Giannis Antetokounmpo leaving Milwaukee is becoming a hotter subject with more teams being speculated to go after him in 2021. Re-emerging from the discussions are the Toronto Raptors, whose “interest” for the Greek Freak is reportedly being held as a “no secret” for next year’s free agency.

"Toronto's interest in pursuing Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2021 is no secret," Tim Bontemps of ESPN reported. "Another deep playoff run would add to the sales pitch."

The defending champions are added right back into the mix of teams being linked to the reigning MVP, some of which are the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and even the Los Angeles Lakers.

In December, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski already hinted on Toronto’s potential chase of the 25-year-old superstar, saying the team is saving its cap space to land the four-time All-Star in said free agency madness.

"I think for Toronto, they look at this season and then they look at the summer of 2021 when like a lot of teams, they want to be in the sweepstakes for Giannis Antetokounmpo," Wojnarowski said, via Real GM. "You're not going to see them do anything here that's going to compromise their salary-cap flexibility for the following year."

Antetokounmpo is expected to cash in about $27.5 million in his final contract year with the Bucks before hitting the market. The Raptors, meanwhile, have “a lot of flexibility” per Rob Goldberg of Bleacher Report with All-Star forward Pascal Siakam being the only player in the team who is under a guaranteed contract after the 2021 season.

The bidding war to capture the Bucks’ main man is expected to be a tight contest as it is tagged as the most anticipated summer move for next year.

With a tough competition ahead, analysts see the Raptors having the leverage in their pitch for Antetokounmpo, who has since been vocal about wanting to win a championship as soon as possible.

“The Raptors could also be an enticing option for Antetokounmpo after winning a championship last season, defeating Milwaukee in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. Perhaps more impressively, the squad has continued its success after losing Kawhi Leonard to free agency, currently sitting second in the conference with a 46-18 record,” Goldberg wrote. “Adding another elite player to this roster could make Toronto nearly unstoppable in the East.”

But amidst the external teases to lure their superstar, the Bucks are making it clear that they are still not out of the picture. With the 2020 season set to resume and the team currently leading the league standings, winning a chip for Milwaukee is not far from reality. And if it happens, most think that there should be no reason for Antetokounmpo to leave the city.