Raptors mailbag: Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumours and a lasting Gregg Popovich memory

Toronto Star

04-05-2025

Man, not very many submissions but an awful lot of questions in Ye Olde Mailbag, if you know what I mean.
Enjoy.
Hey Doug:
Hope you are staying well. Thank you for the insightful articles about some of the key players who will be available during next month's draft.
If you were in the 'room where it happens' on draft night and both Derik Queen and Khaman Maluach are there to be selected, which one would you recommend the Raptors pick? And why?
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At the time of writing, the team matchups for the Eastern Conference semifinals are set. Who would you pick to win, and in how many games?
With Gregg Popovich out as the Spurs' head coach (wishing him well), any thoughts about the end of that era for San Antonio and any favourite stories about Pop?
Appreciated as always,
-Phil
Raptors
Raptors NBA draft prospects: Why Duke centre Khaman Maluach would be a logical pick
Maluach ticks every Raptors box and could be around by the time Toronto picks.
Raptors
Raptors NBA draft prospects: Why Duke centre Khaman Maluach would be a logical pick
Maluach ticks every Raptors box and could be around by the time Toronto picks.
Draft questions like that are really unfair to some degree because I've not seen either play in person or watched them work out and I've never sat across the table from them to look 'em in the eye and see what makes them tick. But you asked so I'll answer as long as you understand my answer is coming without wealth of knowledge. As much as Queen's offensive game seems to fit well with the Raptors there are enough pink flares — conditioning, weight, age, work ethic — that I'd go with the younger Maluach.
In the East, I'm dead sure I'll be in a tiny minority but I like the Pacers. I think the experience they got last year will be invaluable and I just like the construction of their roster. Plus, I'm a huge fan of Rick Carlisle. The other one: Boston rolls, probably in five.
I love Pop. Have forever. Love his politics, love his don't-give-a-crap willingness to step outside basketball and his way of calling silly questions silly questions.
One story, and I am sure I've written about it before but here we go:
FIBA World Cup in Indy, 2002. Late night. Lobby bar of the Westin, the greats Liz Robbins and Chris Sheridan and I are solving all the world's problems at our table while a gaggle of big-time NBA and USAB folks are a few tables away. Pop's walking past us on his way out, toting a near-full bottle of wine. He spies us, walks over, deposits the bottle on our table and says something like: 'You guys can't afford this but it's good. Enjoy it.'
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And I believe we did.
I said this Friday in the social media world — smithraptorsbeat.bsky.social — everyone should be wary of saying 'there'll never be another' about anyone. Except Pop. There'll never be another Pop.
Hi Doug,
What a difference a week makes!
Basketball
Appreciation: Gregg Popovich had a view of the world, and it changed both the Spurs and the NBA
Gregg Popovich understood the world.
Basketball
Appreciation: Gregg Popovich had a view of the world, and it changed both the Spurs and the NBA
Gregg Popovich understood the world.
Luka Doncic and LeBron James sent packing and talk in Raptorland about something besides Cooper Flagg! I'll get right to it:
1) Shortly after the Bucks were eliminated, talk sprung up about Giannis Antetokounmpo heading to the Raptors. Before the trade deadline, RJ Barrett was a name often mentioned in potential trades. Any idea why him above all others? He's had a career season, shouldn't we want to hang onto him?
2) Sticking with the thought, from the outside, which Raptors are the most desirable in trade? Who do other teams want? I understand for trades that salaries must match, which limits options. Is it fair to say offers won't be seriously considered until the draft lottery results are final?
3) A question you may not be able to answer: How much attention do players pay to courtside fans and how easily are players distracted? I remember years ago several attractive young women seated near players and then several assistant coaches swapping seats with the players near the ladies by halftime! Also recall this season RJ Barrett scoring, then suddenly recognizing a star from Game of Thrones courtside. I would assume players not dressed or out of regular rotation would be easier to distract.
Thoughts?
4) Who is your pick for coach of the year (next to be fired) and why? Shouldn't Detroit get it? (From dead last two years straight to nearly pulling off the upset playoff win!) Who has the most influence on the awards? (I assume media)
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Thanks for your assessments of the most intriguing prospects. Let's see how things shake out in the next couple of months!
-Bernie M.
Indeed, there was some Raptor-specific chatter this week. It was nice, to a point, since the focus here has shifted a bit from life's generalities and other sports.
Raptors
Opinion
Doug Smith: Giannis's time in Milwaukee may be over — and another blockbuster opportunity could be there for Masai Ujiri and the Raptors
The Greek Freak's future is one of the hottest talking points around the NBA after the Bucks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the first round.
Raptors
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Doug Smith: Giannis's time in Milwaukee may be over — and another blockbuster opportunity could be there for Masai Ujiri and the Raptors
The Greek Freak's future is one of the hottest talking points around the NBA after the Bucks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the first round.
The original chatter about Barrett, real or imagined, comes from the good season he had last year and a contract that's a combination of shortish and not overly financially burdensome. Any other players in a deal might be simple cap ballast to make the money work.
These days, the most coveted assets in teams wanting to make moves are future assets (draft picks), young players with promise and expiring contracts to replace longer ones going out. All of which the Raptors have, as well as bigger, more expensive players like Scottie Barnes.
And, yes, there will be nothing contemplated at all until after the lottery a week from Monday.
My feeling — and we don't sit anywhere near courtside anymore so I can't attest to it fully — is that players hear a lot and keep their reactions — good to some of the jokes and famous fans, bad to the idiots who ruined the experience for others by being knuckleheads — to their selves. It's hard but they have to.
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This was the ballot I submitted for coach of year, in order: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland; J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit; Tyronn Lue, Clippers.
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The total improvement in leading Cleveland to near historic heights gave Atkinson a narrow edge but I could easily have flipped one and two.
One thing to remember is ALL of our votes had to be submitted before even the first play-in game was played.
Hi Doug,
Now that Milwaukee has had another ignominious exit from the playoffs, there's talk that the team needs a reset and that Giannis Antetokounmpo might be available in a trade.
John Hollinger at The Athletic suggested that Toronto would be a potential trade target. Let's not forget that Masai Ujiri has long coveted Antetokounmpo. Hollinger suggested Barnes and the 2025 lottery pick would get this deal done. Of course it would! But I'm not making that deal if I'm Ujiri. Maybe Barnes for Giannis one for one would make sense, but I wouldn't include the lottery pick.
But I'm not a basketball savant. So I'm wondering if you thought the Raptors could put together a credible package to secure Antetokounmpo and, if so, what would it take to get it done?
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All the best,
-Marshall A.
As I wrote, I think they could very well put one together. Whether it intrigues Milwaukee is entirely unknown, as is this: Giannis has been more than loyal to the Bucks, I'm not sure there's any interest in his end to move. That's going to factor greatly into whatever unfolds.
Antetokounmpo? The Raptors should chase after him? Really? Sure — who wouldn't want him on the roster. But the fit? He's 30. Surround him with players — nine of whom are currently 25 or younger? Sure — Jakob Poeltl is 29. Sure — Brandon Ingram is 27. But the fit isn't obvious. We've been going in one clear direction in the rebuild — and this would change everything. Hard to imagine him — even if he had a positive opinion of the roster — wanting to be on this team — particularly if you're trading Barnes and another decent piece for him. And surely you'd only trade for him, this time, if he were sticking around for more than a year — because we won't be winning that championship next year!
Raptors Insider
Raptors NBA draft prospects: Why this freshman centre is intriguing but a risky pick for Toronto
Maryland's Derik Queen has elite offensive skills and shot-making ability but major questions will dog six-foot-10 big man in the pre-draft process.
Raptors Insider
Raptors NBA draft prospects: Why this freshman centre is intriguing but a risky pick for Toronto
Maryland's Derik Queen has elite offensive skills and shot-making ability but major questions will dog six-foot-10 big man in the pre-draft process.
If there is any interest on his side to play here — it is to play with Scottie Barnes — he's praised Barnes in the press before. Therefore, the logical first piece to trade for him would be Ingram instead of Barnes. On the other hand, this is supposed to be Barnes' team — that kind of changes if we add Antetokounmpo with him — so maybe there is no choice but to trade Barnes for him after all?
Regardless — whether we offer Barnes or Ingram — other teams will offer more. Not seeing what value you can add in, unless we sign a player just to trade him to the Bucks.
My guess is he wants another championship. The question is does he do the unfortunate thing and insist on going to a shortlist of contenders? It would really be irritating if he ends up with a Los Angeles-based team.
This scenario is exactly unlike the scenario where we grabbed Kawhi Leonard. The Ingram trade made a lot of sense. Not sure trading for Giannis — given the obvious cost — is the way to go here — unless there is a way to steal him like the Lakers did with Luka Doncic.
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-Jeff V.
I'll try to answer your concerns. He's 30, not 45. Fitting in with mid-20s guys is easy. Plus, I'd rather the Raptors add a veteran — let alone an NBA champion, MVP, Finals MVP — than a teenager who's maybe three years from maturing.
I cannot say this louder: IF THE IDEA OF REBUILDING IS TO GET BETTER PLAYERS, WHY THE HECK WOULDN'T THEY TRY TO GET ONE OF THE TOP THREE IN THE LEAGUE?
And, yes, keeping Barnes out of a deal is the perfect scenario. Virtually impossible but, yeah, you start without him in a deal but it cannot be a deal-breaker. In my opinion.
No, Giannis may not even want to leave, but I know enough about him that he's not ever going to join some super team and he's not seen to be a ring-chaser. He wants the challenge. And, frankly, given the state of the east compared to the west, Toronto's awfully close to competing for playing in the NBA Finals than a lot of west teams.
I was just reading an article in the Star in regards to Coca-Cola arena on the CNE grounds. Do you foresee that venue being a long-term home for the Tempo or do you see or hear of plans for another facility?
As the article states it is cramped, and space to grow internally is at a minimum. In terms of the money-makers, concessions/merch sales, the present situation makes it hard to grow those revenue streams. In terms of the whole 'fan experience' (Shatkins term) I wonder about its long-term viability as a home for the Tempo.
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Also I found interesting in the article was this tidbit of info 'MLSE holds a long-term lease to run and operate Coca-Cola Coliseum and is responsible for upgrades.' It has previously acknowledged that venue access with capacity crowds can be difficult, but declined to discuss any changes planned to better accommodate Sceptres and Tempo fans.
Tempo
The Toronto Tempo have a new home in an old building where the Sceptres play. How will Coca-Cola Coliseum make it work?
The PWHL's Toronto Sceptres play sold out games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. Next year the Toronto Tempo, Canada's first WNBA team, will too.
Tempo
The Toronto Tempo have a new home in an old building where the Sceptres play. How will Coca-Cola Coliseum make it work?
The PWHL's Toronto Sceptres play sold out games at the Coca-Cola Coliseum. Next year the Toronto Tempo, Canada's first WNBA team, will too.
Would MLSE be that open to investing money into the infrastructure of the facility to help a 'competitor' make more coin, although MLSE would as well as a result of increased lease rates, etc., which comes with any upgrade.
I am sure Larry Tanenbaum and his investment group are all aware of this situation and have plans in place, for a practice facility, long-term home, etc.
Just wondering if you had some insider info.
-Doug B.
I don't have a lot of inside knowledge except that I would imagine as the Tempo get a foothold on the market, they would hope to attract more than the current Coca Cola capacity and a larger venue, they hope, would be necessary. But I think they're years from that and on the odd occasion could play a game or two as tenants at Scotiabank.
What also needs to be pointed out is that the same venue houses the AHL Marlies and if there are upgrades, it would enhance the experience for the MLSE-owned minor-league affiliate of the Leafs, so maybe everyone wins, and maybe Kilmer Sports Ventures chips on the cost of some upgrades.
There is, though, definite plans for a Tempo practice facility that is their own, it's part of the franchise's expansion agreement.