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The Toronto Raptors, in their recent history, have made an epic trade that delivered them an NBA championship.
But not all deals are created equal, and Kawhi Leonard and Giannis Antetokounmpo don't fit every narrative in the same way.
The problem, explained by ESPN's Bobby Marks in a new article on Thursday, is that these Raptors aren't as close as those Raptors were.
"Leading up to the draft, parallels will certainly be drawn to when Toronto traded for the expiring contract of Kawhi Leonard en route to the 2018-19 championship," Marks wrote. "But this Raptors roster is not constructed to win a title, even if Antetokounmpo is paired with Barnes. As is the case with Portland, the reward might not outweigh the risk, especially if Antetokounmpo does not commit long term."
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Marks notes that the Raptors would probably want to at least keep Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles out of any deal.
That leaves a trove of draft picks but maybe not a ton else appealing for the Milwaukee Bucks to get in return.
"The Raptors can trade five first-round picks, including the 19th in this year's draft, but will they have appealing players if Scottie Barnes and rookie Collin Murray-Boyles are not included in talks?" Marks writes. "Toronto must also monitor its finances. Including the first-round pick in June, the Raptors are $4 million below the luxury tax and $5.2 million under the first apron."
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All of the above adds up to a situation that makes it seem like the Raptors could be on the outskirts of Giannis talks but maybe not in the middle.
It's worth it for Toronto to at least inquire and learn what the cost might be. There's just a decent chance the Raptors get outbid anyway.
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