The Toronto Raptors are already out of the NBA Playoffs. But now, reports are starting to surface about what could’ve been. Yesterday, the Raptors would fire head coach Dwane Casey. Today, fans get to be even sadder. According to Adrian Wojnarowski on Friday’s “The Woj Pod,” Toronto wanted Giannis Antetokounmpo. Things just didn’t break their way.
“Masai had a deal in Toronto. I remember Masai was working with Oklahoma City on a possible trade. I think Oklahoma was at 10 that year and they took Steven Adams. Ten or 11 or 12, somewhere in there. And once Adams made it to the Thunder, there was no trade. But I think if Adams had gotten taken ahead of them, Oklahoma City may have traded out of there, and Toronto would’ve gotten (Giannis).”
The Raptors didn’t own a first-round pick that year, however. That’s because they would trade it one year earlier to Houston in exchange for Kyle Lowry. Then the Rockets would send it to OKC in the James Harden deal. And once Steven Adams fell to OKC at No. 12, that was it. So while the Raptors didn’t get that first-rounder back, Lowry is a pretty good consolation. He’s not Giannis, but then again nobody is.
In six seasons with the Raptors, Lowry is averaging 17.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals per contest. Plus, he’s a four-time All-Star. That’s not too bad.
But what if…
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