Execs See Lakers as Leaders for Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade

Much has changed in the last month for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team has finally gotten its star trio of  Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves back and healthy, and has gone on a tear as the chemistry has begun to come together. The Lakers have a nine-game winning streak, and it’s pretty much seemed as though anything is now possible.

Of course, a glance at the Western Conference standings brings the reminder that the Thunder and the Spurs still exist, and as long as that is the case, it is not going to be easy for the Lakers to make much of a dent in the postseason. A trip to the second round is certainly a likelihood. But then it would be the Spurs and Lakers ahead.

Which means that, though the Lakers do look like a different team these days, they’re probably going to have to continue shaking things up in the summer. And that could well mean an ardent pursuit of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo Rumored to Like Lakers

Now, we don’t know exactly how serious the Bucks will be about trading Antetokounmpo. They flirted with the idea at the trade deadline, though there was a sense throughout that process that they were not serious about it. The upcoming summer, though, will be their best chance to deal Antetokounmpo and get good value for him–and the Lakers will be poised to take advantage.

Antetokounmpo has not directly said where he wants to go if he is traded, but it is widely believed around the league that the Lakers would be near the top of his list.  He has some leverage in that part of the process–he will need to sign a five-year, $275 million extension on his contract if he is traded, and he can indicate which teams he’d re-sign with before a deal is made.

For that reason, league executives give the Lakers the upper hand in an Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.

 

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Enough on Hand for Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade?

Of course, the Lakers don’t have the massive pieces on hand to send to Milwaukee directly in a trade, but they will have three first-round picks to convey and an acre of cap space. The Lakers could structure a multi-deal to absorb Antetokounmpo and allow other pieces to be moved to Milwaukee, particularly useful for teams facing a luxury tax crunch.

It will take some footwork to get it done, but as one Western Conference executive told Heavy Sports, “If he says he wants to go to the Lakers and play with Luka Doncic, it will take a lot to get it done, but they’ll get it done.”

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Lakers Looking at Big Summer

What’s not clear is what impact the possibility of an Antetokounmpo deal would have on other Lakers decisions. LeBron James’ potential return–or departure–is the most notable one, but it’s possible the Lakers could let free-agent Austin Reaves walk (or, more likely, go in a sign-and-trade) in an Antetokounmpo-centric summer shake-up.

Ideally, though, the Lakers would come back with both Doncic and Reaves in place, alongside Antetokounmpo and a new big man.

“A lot of it will depend on Giannis and where he wants to go, whether it is New York or L.A.,” the exec said. “He could decide the East has a better path to the Finals. But the Lakers want to make that real earthquake kind of trade to set things up with Doncic. had their eye on making a move for him, now, or in free agency (in 2027). If that’s what he wants, they’ll be ready for him.”

Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney