Latest news with #RyanWolstat
Toronto Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Raptors? Breaking down likelihood of blockbuster deal for Bucks star
Explaining the whys, why nots and the possibilities of a mega-move. Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo pumps his fist during a game in April. AP Photo The Giannis Antetokounmpo-to-Toronto trade rumours are in their 12th year and might not die down until the phenom either plays for the Raptors or retires. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Back in 2013, Masai Ujiri, then freshly installed as the boss of the Raptors, had more interest in the rail-thin, ultra-raw, but ultra-intriguing teenager than nearly any other team executive, but couldn't close a deal to get into the draft to select him in the late lottery. Antetokounmpo kept growing, kept getting better and ultimately led the Milwaukee Bucks to a title while wining a pair of NBA MVP awards and nearly every other award you could think of. Toronto has tried to keep its powder dry on at least a couple of occasions salary cap-wise when Antetokounmpo was approaching free agency, only to see the Bucks twice sign him to new deals. But now Milwaukee is in bad shape, competitively speaking. Antetokounmpo's running mate, fellow NBA 75th Anniversary Team member Damian Lillard, will soon turn 35 and just tore his Achilles. The team doesn't have a good enough roster to make any noise, lacking prospects and draft picks, so the speculation is the extremely competitive Antetokounmpo and the franchise will be heading for a split at some point as he chases another championship. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Well-respected ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst caused a stir this weekend when he said on his Hoop Collective Podcast that Toronto is looking to make a major move this off-season and is trying to land a 'big fish.' Should the Raptors go all-in for a superstar this summer? 👀 On a recent episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN's @WindhorstESPN said he's heard the Raptors are expected to be in the mix for major names this offseason. (via @espn) — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 1, 2025 Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Windhorst said: 'There are some teams that sniff the ability to make a move and I think Toronto is one of those teams. And so naturally, any team that wants to make a move this summer, especially a team in the Eastern Conference, you're going to have Giannis on the board. 'But Toronto, from their initial conversations, teams in the league are getting the impression that Toronto is going to try and do something. I had an executive tell me yesterday that he thinks this could be an explosive summer.' Let's break it all down: WHY GIANNIS? Let's keep this short. He just finished third in MVP voting (the third time that has happened and he also has been fourth twice in addition to his two wins), is at worst the fourth-best player in the league and is the most dominant athletic force since prime Shaquille O'Neal or LeBron James. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He also is under contract for two more seasons with a player option on a third. He'd be the best player in franchise history, with apologies to Kawhi Leonard, and has shown no signs of slippage in his play. With Jayson Tatum probably out all next season and Boston looking to cut its payroll, the East is pretty wide open. Cleveland should be excellent again, finalist Indiana can bring its squad back and New York should be able to as well, but with Antetokounmpo, Toronto would be in the mix to win multiple playoff rounds. That's a lot better than missing the playoffs in four of the past five seasons as Toronto has done. WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? Raptors fans can daydream all they like that a deal could be made for Giannis that wouldn't include all-star forward Scottie Barnes, but it's non-sensical for the Bucks to accept one without him. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto falling to No. 9 from No. 7 lowered the value of this year's first-round pick. Had they leapt into the Top 4 maybe there was a small chance of a non-Barnes package being enough, but that ship has sailed. Why would Milwaukee consider something like No. 9, Toronto's 2026 first (keeping in mind Giannis and Barnes and whatever else is left would form a strong team in the weak Eastern Conference, meaning that pick would be somewhere around 17-22), swap rights in 2027 (unlikely to convey since the Bucks will probably be worse than Toronto), 2028 first (still not a high pick if Giannis is around), 2029 swap option and Toronto's 2030 first plus prospects like Ja'Kobe Walter, Gradey Dick and the players on lucrative deals required to make the money work (two of RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl or Immanuel Quickley)? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto would need Quickley's shooting to make a Giannis/Barnes pairing work, anyway. So, it would have to be something like Barnes, Walter or Dick, Barrett or Poeltl or Quickley and multiple first-round picks going the other way. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Even if Toronto surrendered Barnes, Milwaukee still could receive better offers. Any team would love to have an all-time great who is still dominant on both ends of the floor. Surely someone would dangle even more enticing options. We've floated previously teams like Houston, Orlando, San Antonio (Dylan Harper or Stephon Castle and picks, anyone?) and maybe New Orleans (owners of plenty of future Milwaukee picks from the Jrue Holiday deal) as potentially having better ammunition to close a deal. Even if Barnes would be a better headliner than anything they could offer (unless Orlando says Paolo Banchero or maybe Franz Wagner are available), the other teams can offer far better future first-round picks than Toronto can. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto would have to bank on Antetokounmpo pressuring Milwaukee to keep him in the East (since it would give him a far better shot of going deep in the playoffs in multiple seasons), specifically wanting to play for the Raptors and for the Bucks honouring those wishes out of deference to the best player in franchise history WHY IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW? Insiders have speculated that there is going to be lots of trade action this off-season due to the restrictive new CBA, major injuries and unhappy stars and/or owners. The Windhorst report on an extremely popular podcast threw gas on the fire and Vegas is starting to take note. Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to odds on the Raptors landing Giannis have plunged from 25-1 to 2-1 over the past two weeks, suggesting that where there's smoke, there is at least some fire regarding the rumours. Those odds doesn't mean he's on his way to Toronto, but heavily suggest there is some interest in it happening. Similar things popped up in the days before Leonard landing with the Raptors. Plus, there's the fact Ujiri is entering the last year of his latest deal and has presided over a free-falling organization since the year after the championship. They waited too long to acquire a centre (Poeltl) and then later to trade Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, saw Fred VanVleet walk, possibly overpaid on Quickley's new contract based on a dire need for pull-up three-point shooting and are coming off the longest stretch without success in years. Things have been turning around, led by Barnes and a promising 2024 draft class, but with Rogers set to become sole owner and Sportsnet reporting season ticket sales down, Ujiri might feel a bigger need than ever to make a huge splash. @WolstatSun Olympics Sunshine Girls Celebrity News Columnists
Toronto Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Toronto Raptors mailbag: Who should they draft, plus Masai Ujiri's future
Plenty of options for draft night and what do looming ownership changes mean for the Raptors? Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox Duke's Khaman Maluach (right) and Cooper Flagg high-five after a play during a game. Photo by AP Photo / AP Photo The second part of this week's Toronto Raptors mailbag keys on the upcoming draft, which is somehow just about here since it's June out of nowhere. What happened to May? That sure didn't feel like an early summer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Toronto is hard at work getting to know prospects as the draft process enters the final stretch. The NBA Finals are about to start and Canada's best-ever basketball player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, can become the first Canuck to be the best player on an NBA champion if his Oklahoma City Thunder can keep rolling. They'll likely be facing Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers (barring a stunning New York Knicks comeback) in a great contrast of styles: Smothering defence against frenetic offence. It should be fun. If you missed Part 1 of the mailbag, which had a lot of trade talk, it's here. From Various people: 'Do you think the lottery was rigged, because it sure as hell seemed like it was!!!' RW: No. It's a lottery, weird things happen. We saw Atlanta win with minuscule odds last year, the New York Islanders and Utah Whatevers make massive jumps in the NHL lottery this year and the days of lotteries going mostly chalk are long gone. There are too many security procedures in place for it to be rigged. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I simulated the lottery 25 times on Tankathon and Dallas only moved up twice, to second and to fourth (Toronto moved into the Top 4 several times). Dan: 'With the East not having many great teams, what do you think is the likelihood the Raptors attempt to upgrade their talent with a large-ish trade or two? I'm thinking trading a youth or two for a solid big makes sense for this group as currently constructed.' RW: That kind of happened already with the Brandon Ingram trade and it didn't cost any young roster pieces (a first-round pick and a second-round pick went out with Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk). Could more consolidation happen? Absolutely, but I would expect the front office to see what it has for a few months before doing anything. The whole group wasn't together for many games last year and Ingram didn't play for the Raptors at all. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. For luxury tax reasons they might need to explore what they could get for Ochai Agbaji and even RJ Barrett and eventually, if either Ja'Kobe Walter or Gradey Dick separate themselves from the other (as I've said, my money's on Walter), one of them could be on the move. But, again, don't see that happening for a while. My best guess is Toronto either makes a major deal before the season starts or nothing. League insiders have speculated there will be a flurry of trades league-wide. @B_Viddy: 'Do you know why the Raptors gave up on Dalano Banton after only 2 seasons? It's not like he stunk the joint out. His departure seemed somewhat sudden, like they made no effort to retain him. Did they perhaps feel he was too distracted playing at home?' RW: Yes, I've actually reported previously that a couple of people who would know had told me when Banton signed with Boston that playing at home hadn't been great for him and he could thrive elsewhere. It didn't work with the stacked Celtics, but he's had some nice stretches in Portland. It's too bad he didn't get to have a long tenure with the Raptors, but he's definitely still an inspiration to kids from his area, as he'd hoped to be. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Could be good for Dalano to get a new start elsewhere. Had heard being at home brought some distractions. Still think there's an NBA player there. — Ryan Wolstat (@WolstatSun) July 3, 2023 Steve: 'Are you rooting for OG or Pascal? Or perhaps Shai?' RW: My rooting days are behind me, but I cheer for the best story. That would be SGA winning the title. He can cap his MVP win and Oklahoma City's 68-win regular season with a remarkable Finals to really become a household name in Canada and beyond. People are still sleeping on Shai a bit too much. I enjoyed covering both Pascal and OG, so happy to see them thriving but don't think the Pacers or Knicks have any shot of winning more than a game against this Thunder juggernaut. And since many think OKC might have to unload Montreal's own Lu Dort, the all-world defender who also shot 40% from three in the regular season, to keep its payroll under control moving forward, all the more reason to want to see the Thunder win now. I covered fellow Montrealers Joel Anthony and Chris Boucher winning titles (whether they actively participated or not, they got the rings) and Khem Birch just won EuroLeague. Dort would join them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Darrell Samuels: 'Given (MLSE president Keith) Pelley's comments regarding (outgoing Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan) Shanahan – where do you see the future of Ujiri within the MLSE umbrella?' RW: Many are thinking this will be Masai's last season with Toronto. I'm not convinced. Yes, the organization appears to be phasing out team presidents, but Ujiri could surely be grandfathered in if he wants a new deal. You can bet Rogers will want him to take a pay cut though, since the Raptors have basically done nothing in recent years and the championship is a while away at this point. Ujiri badly wants to bring another title here, but even with the East being way worse than the West and likely to stay that way with Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper joining teams in the West, the Raptors are presently nowhere close to competing for anything more than maybe squeezing out a first round win if they can play the third or fourth seed. Maybe. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Masai has kids that have only known life in Toronto. Would he want to move his family at this point, or maybe see what happens on one more deal and go from there? I'd bet on the latter, but he's not saying one way or the other. 'How likely is another reset if they don't make the playoffs and what does Masai's future with the team look like either way?' RW: To add on to the prior question, if they somehow miss the playoffs (lose in play-in or don't make it in all), then I could see Ujiri not coming back by mutual decision. But I just can't see that happening if they stay reasonably healthy. The East stinks, Toronto is more talented than all but maybe five teams in the conference. How would they even reset again? Let Jakob Poeltl walk in free agency for nothing and deal RJ Barrett maybe? If things go wrong Ingram wouldn't have much trade value. No, they're pretty committed to this group for now. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 40 & Dunking? @MidlifeVertical: 'Thomas Sorber or Carter Bryant?' Dan: 'Who do you think the Raps should draft? Or perhaps should they trade the pick for talent?' RW: Don't think it makes sense to trade the ninth pick for an established player because it would likely put them into the luxury tax. They still have a tiny bit of flexibility for now and I'd actually consider going the other way, like trading Agbaji for an expiring contract and a pick in the late teens (otherwise they could lose him for nothing, or would be into the tax). As for who to take, I really like Jeremiah Fears, but he probably doesn't make it to Toronto's pick. Ideally they'd get someone who has a chance to be a star, but more likely they'll be angling for a rotation piece. Bryant could be that, maybe Collin Murray-Boyles or Khaman Maluach or Kasparas Jakucionis one day. I'd consider trading down and picking up an asset or two as I am intrigued by a bunch of prospects considered out of the lottery types (like Sorber, Rasheer Fleming, Nique Clifford, or Cedric Coward). I'm no draft expert, but coming away with a big wing or power forward and a backup centre like Sorber or Ryan Kalbrenner or Maxime Raynaud could set the Raptors up nicely. Would Brooklyn give Toronto 19 and 26 and 36 for 9 and 39? What about Atlanta dealing 13 and 22 for 9 and 39 or OKC giving 15 and 24 for 9 (though Ujiri and Sam Presti have never made a deal during their long careers)? Might Ujiri tempt his close friend Jeff Weltman of Orlando with 9 for 16 and 25? There are some possibilities if Toronto likes multiple prospects and if all of its top choices are gone by nine. Read More Toronto & GTA Crime Canada Columnists Columnists
Toronto Sun
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Blue Jays fan catches home run ball after dropping another in same inning
The Blue Jays broadcast detailed both attempts and the official MLB account later shared it on X. Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox A Toronto Blue Jays fan got a rare second chance to catch a home run ball in a game against the Athletics. Photo by Screengrab / Sportsnet A Toronto Blue Jays fan got a rare second chance to catch a home run ball, and remarkably it came in the same inning as the first opportunity. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account During Thursday's 12-0 Jays beatdown of the visiting Athletics at Rogers Centre, the young fan tried to catch a home run by third baseman Ernie Clement off' Jacob Lopez in the second inning. Unfortunately, the ball popped in and out of his glove, leaving the fan holding his hand and glove over his head in disbelief. He was consoled with a pat on the back and still appeared stunned at the close call. But the real excitement was still to come, and not that long after. The Blue Jays belted out eight runs in the inning, including another home run, by star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. a few batters after Clement's homer. Read More Incredibly, despite there being nearly 24,000 fans in the ballpark, Guerrero's hit went to the same boy. And this time, he made the catch. He received high fives from nearby fans and was a lot happier than after the first try. The Blue Jays broadcast detailed both attempts and the official MLB account later shared it on X. The lucky fan has not yet been identified. While it's rare for home runs or foul balls to end up in exactly the same spot, this writer's father once caught two foul balls — bare-handed no less — in the same game in the early days of what was then known as SkyDome, leading to quips from nearby fans to 'leave some for the rest of us.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Toronto & GTA World World Columnists Crime
Toronto Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Toronto Raptors mailbag: Is Giannis coming to town? RJ Barrett on the move?
Part 1 of the mailbag keys on trade rumours. Get the latest from Ryan Wolstat straight to your inbox RJ Barrett of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks earlier this season. Getty Images It has been a while since we did a Toronto Raptors mailbag. But with the most insane lottery in recent memory completed and the NBA draft just a month away, now's as good a time as any to take reader questions. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Here's part 1 with a thanks as always for the questions. Part 2, with more of a focus on the draft and ownership changes, will drop later in the week: Sean @Whispering375: Why would Raptors look to trade RJ Barrett? He's been a bucket-getter. Who would you move this summer? @D13Drafts asks: 'It seems that RJ Barrett is the most likely piece of the core to be moved. What do you think is a likely destination for RJ & do you expect to see movement on that front?' Ryan Wolstat: It's a fair take D13 and one I've made myself in past columns (arguing either Barrett or Ochai Agbaji might have to go at some point to avoid the luxury tax). Though Barrett checks a lot of boxes (at 24, he's actually the second-youngest 'core' piece, not including the ninth pick of this coming draft, he's the leading scorer each of the last two seasons, a homegrown star and puts a lot of pressure on the rim, unlike most of his teammates), he likely has a more moveable contract than other core Raptors. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Immanuel Quickley arguably has a more-needed key skill, with his ability to hit pull-up three-pointers, than Barrett, Brandon Ingram isn't going anywhere and the team believes in Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter a lot, making Barrett perhaps superfluous because Ingram will replace his points and, between Dick and Walter, they can absorb the bulk of the shooting guard minutes (with Agbaji potentially playing some as well or Quickley sliding over beside Jamal Shead). And Sean, I agree on the sentiment of why move him? It was a bit odd Toronto didn't push Barrett for all-star consideration at all even though he was the leading scorer and was putting up insane numbers at home. They like him and opted for a deal that included him from New York instead of other variations that didn't, but don't seem to value the Canadian connection, the work ethic, personality, bucket-getting abilities and improved defensive commitment as they should (clearly I like Barrett more than many people do). Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I don't see what the Raptors do with Dick and would be intrigued what he'd fetch on the market, but not sure it would be enough to give up on him now (if he has another overall year like this past campaign, though, it would be hard to get any value for him), but not sure there's any other obvious choice to trade, unless Agbaji could get you something nice before you have to potentially overpay him. As for who might be interested in Barrett? Hard to say right now until we see bigger dominos fall around the league. If he is dealt, it would be stunning to see it happen this off-season instead of next or even in season (unless it's to make the money work in a deal returning a superstar). Which brings us to: Pierro @Oliaros2: How good a chance to the Raps have at landing Giannis Antetokounmpo and do you know if that's even a serious consideration? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Chris Hill: Do you think they're serious players for Giannis? RW: Went over this in more detail earlier this month. While Masai Ujiri has surprised me in the past (I was as big a Kawhi rumour sceptic as you can get) we just can't imagine they have an offer good enough to get it done. It would take Giannis saying 'move me to Toronto and Toronto only' for it to happen, realistically. Plenty of teams can blow the best Raptors package out of the water since the team fell to ninth in the lottery from seventh. Toronto's best offer (something like Barnes, No. 9, two of Dick, Walter, Agbaji, their 2026 first, 2027 first swap option, 2028 first, 2029 first swap option) looks OK until you think about alternatives for the Bucks, who don't control most of their future draft picks so have little incentive to stink the next couple of years, meaning they'd either want a lot more instant help than Toronto can offer, or control of their picks back. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Houston could offer all-star Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard plus better picks or Jabari Smith, Sheppard and picks. San Antonio could offer the second pick of the draft (likely Dylan Harper) and pieces to make salary work, plus other picks. Orlando could build a package around Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs plus picks (or Paolo Banchero, but that's probably unlikely). New Orleans could give Milwaukee its picks back (acquired in the Jrue Holiday trade) and Zion Williamson or something like that and we're probably missing a team or two. For what it's worth, Vegas believes Milwaukee is about 50-50 to keep Giannis. San Antonio and Houston have the best odds of trading for him, followed by Brooklyn, Miami and New York, though the latter three are significant longshots. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. To me, Houston makes the most sense with a bunch of variations to make it happen. Read More Spencer Smith: How is it possible that the Raptors had the 26th-ranked defensive rating in 2023-24 with OG and Pascal on the team??? RW: If you were watching closely that year, it was clear Anunoby was not the same dude he was in a fully motivated 2022-23, when he led the NBA in steals and deflections and should have made the all-defensive first team instead of the second. While OG wasn't exactly doing the full Vince Carter 'I quit,' he wasn't having close to his usual impact (and, like Carter, once he landed in the New York area, he took back off and turned back into the player he had been before). This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Siakam's drop-off defensively was stark that year, too, likely a result of the trade rumours, declining relationship with the front office and lack of coherence with Darko Rajakovic. Toronto also replaced Fred VanVleet's pesky brand of defence with Dennis Schroder and Malachi Flynn — sub-optimal, to say the least — leading to many more breakdowns, plus Gary Trent Jr. took two or three steps backwards defensively from the previous year. All that said, once Siakam and Anunoby were traded and when the remaining players pretty much all got hurt or had to leave the team for personal matters, the Raptors slipped to 29th defensively and rarely won a game. So they were still better defensively with Siakam and Anunoby at, say, 60% of their capabilities, than without them entirely. Canada Canada Money News Tennis Music
National Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Toronto Raptors mailbag: Is Giannis coming to town? RJ Barrett on the move?
It has been a while since we did a Toronto Raptors mailbag. But with the most insane lottery in recent memory completed and the NBA draft just a month away, now's as good a time as any to take reader questions. Article content Article content Here's part 1 with a thanks as always for the questions. Part 2, with more of a focus on the draft and ownership changes, will drop later in the week: Article content Sean @Whispering375: Why would Raptors look to trade RJ Barrett? He's been a bucket-getter. Who would you move this summer? Article content Article content @D13Drafts asks: 'It seems that RJ Barrett is the most likely piece of the core to be moved. What do you think is a likely destination for RJ & do you expect to see movement on that front?' Article content Ryan Wolstat: It's a fair take D13 and one I've made myself in past columns (arguing either Barrett or Ochai Agbaji might have to go at some point to avoid the luxury tax). Article content Though Barrett checks a lot of boxes (at 24, he's actually the second-youngest 'core' piece, not including the ninth pick of this coming draft, he's the leading scorer each of the last two seasons, a homegrown star and puts a lot of pressure on the rim, unlike most of his teammates), he likely has a more moveable contract than other core Raptors. Article content Immanuel Quickley arguably has a more-needed key skill, with his ability to hit pull-up three-pointers, than Barrett, Brandon Ingram isn't going anywhere and the team believes in Gradey Dick and Ja'Kobe Walter a lot, making Barrett perhaps superfluous because Ingram will replace his points and, between Dick and Walter, they can absorb the bulk of the shooting guard minutes (with Agbaji potentially playing some as well or Quickley sliding over beside Jamal Shead). Article content Article content It was a bit odd Toronto didn't push Barrett for all-star consideration at all even though he was the leading scorer and was putting up insane numbers at home. They like him and opted for a deal that included him from New York instead of other variations that didn't, but don't seem to value the Canadian connection, the work ethic, personality, bucket-getting abilities and improved defensive commitment as they should (clearly I like Barrett more than many people do). Article content I don't see what the Raptors do with Dick and would be intrigued what he'd fetch on the market, but not sure it would be enough to give up on him now (if he has another overall year like this past campaign, though, it would be hard to get any value for him), but not sure there's any other obvious choice to trade, unless Agbaji could get you something nice before you have to potentially overpay him.
