If you’re a fan of the Toronto Raptors, Tuesday qualified as a bad-news day.
Two-time reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo announced his intention to sign a five-year supermax contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks, after all. Which meant next summer’s most intriguing free-agent target — a player Raptors president Masai Ujiri has earnestly attempted to acquire going back to the night in 2013 when he was drafted 15th overall by the Bucks — was suddenly off the market.
Assuming old friend Kawhi Leonard isn’t likely to leave Los Angeles anytime soon — although Leonard’s current contract does have an opt-out after the coming season — the drop-off in viable free-agent options looks awfully steep.