Could Toronto Raptors trade Scottie Barnes for one of NBA's biggest stars?

The Toronto Raptors appear to be mulling over some potentially franchise-altering moves.

Last week, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Raptors were looking for a "big fish," with the Toronto Star's Doug Smith later sharing that the team had "mutual interest" with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP himself, is coming off a season where he finished third in MVP voting and is clearly still one of the league's top players.

But given the fact that the Bucks have won just a single playoff series since their 2021 title — and appear headed for a tough few years ahead, particularly given star point guard Damian Lillard's Achilles injury that likely has him sidelined for all of next season — trade rumours have been swirling around the 30-year-old star.

Sportsnet's Michael Grange spoke to the JD Bunkis Podcast earlier this week about the possibility of Antetokounmpo joining the Raptors, and a possible cost for the move.

“It's not being dismissed around these parts," Grange said, referring to other NBA sources, though he admitted his focus was more on the NBA Finals than the Raptors' trade rumours. "But we're still a long way from anything happening."

The biggest prize that the Raptors would likely have to offer the Bucks in return is Scottie Barnes, their 2021 fourth overall pick, the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year, and a 2024 All-Star. Barnes himself would likely need to be a part of a bigger package to make the salaries work out under NBA trade rules, but Grange suggested that Toronto's previous investment in their star wouldn't necessarily exempt him from being included in a deal if necessary.

"I don't see an affection for a player being the reason they don't make a decision for a player… the question would be if it's the right basketball move," Grange added.

Grange also discussed the DeMar DeRozan trade in 2018 that brought Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, as well as the firing of coach Dwane Casey that same year, a few weeks before he was awarded NBA Coach of the Year.

"I think those were really, really hard moves for this franchise to make, for Masai Ujiri to make… and they got done," Grange said.

Whether "The Greek Freak" ever calls Toronto home is still to be determined, but as we stand here today, it doesn't seem like something that can be completely ruled out, either.