If Giannis Antetokounmpo does become available via trade, NBA teams interested in making a move might want to act fast - because the Los Angeles Lakers could be looming as a serious player in the sweepstakes.
While there’s been talk that Milwaukee could explore moving Antetokounmpo ahead of the trade deadline, there’s also a very real possibility this saga stretches into the offseason. And if that happens, the Lakers are positioned to make things interesting.
According to league sources, Los Angeles would be a legitimate threat to land the two-time MVP should he become available after the season. The reason?
Flexibility. The Lakers are projected to clear roughly $95 million off their books this summer, giving them a rare level of cap space in today’s NBA landscape.
That kind of financial breathing room opens the door to absorbing a max-level contract like Antetokounmpo’s - or potentially another star who might shake free after the playoffs.
The idea, reportedly, would be to pair that incoming star with a backcourt headlined by Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, forming a new-look Big Three in L.A. That’s a bold vision, and while it would take some maneuvering to pull off, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
From Milwaukee’s perspective, if they do decide to move on from Giannis, dealing with the Lakers could be appealing in one key way: they wouldn’t have to take back long-term, undesirable contracts. That’s a big consideration for any team trying to pivot quickly into a retool or rebuild.
Of course, the Lakers being in the mix for a superstar isn’t exactly new. This is a franchise built on star power - from Magic and Kareem to Shaq and Kobe, LeBron and AD.
The allure of playing under the bright lights of Los Angeles, in front of a global fanbase, still carries weight. That kind of brand power has helped the Lakers land marquee names before, and it could factor into the equation again if Giannis ever seriously considers a change of scenery.
Still, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Lakers may have cap space, but they don’t exactly have a treasure chest of draft picks or elite young talent to offer in a trade - which is what Milwaukee would likely be looking for in return for a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber. That makes a deal this offseason a long shot.
But the Lakers are playing the long game here. Even if they can’t swing a trade in the near future, they’re reportedly keeping their books clean for 2027, when Antetokounmpo could hit free agency. That’s the kind of forward-thinking strategy that’s been quietly brewing in the background - and it could pay off in a big way down the line.
Bottom line: if the Bucks decide to explore a trade for Giannis, the clock starts ticking for the rest of the league. Because if the Lakers get a seat at the table, things could escalate quickly.