The Lakers' front office didn’t pull off a blockbuster at the trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean they’re done making noise. While Giannis Antetokounmpo will finish out the season in Milwaukee, the door is far from closed on a potential move this summer - and Los Angeles is expected to be right in the thick of it.
According to reports, the Lakers are gearing up to make a serious run at the two-time MVP once the offseason arrives. They’ll have company, though.
The New York Knicks and Miami Heat are also expected to be in the mix, and sources close to Antetokounmpo suggest those two franchises might be at the top of his list. That said, he’s reportedly not ruling out the Lakers - and that’s all the opening L.A. needs.
For now, the Lakers pivoted at the deadline and added sharpshooter Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks. Kennard isn’t a headline-grabber like Giannis, but he brings something the Lakers sorely needed: elite perimeter shooting.
He’s currently leading the league in three-point percentage, hitting nearly half of his attempts from deep - a blistering 49.7%. That kind of efficiency should immediately help stretch defenses and open up the floor for the Lakers’ playmakers.
Still, Kennard is more of a complementary piece than a cornerstone. He addresses a specific need, but he doesn’t transform the ceiling of this team. That’s where the Giannis pursuit comes in.
Adding Antetokounmpo would be a seismic shift for the Lakers. He’s a game-changer on both ends of the floor - a defensive anchor who can guard multiple positions and protect the rim, and a relentless offensive force who can dominate in transition, attack the paint, and create for others. Pairing him with Luka Dončić would instantly form one of the most formidable duos in the league, blending Dončić’s surgical playmaking with Giannis’ physical dominance.
It’s no secret that the Lakers are in win-now mode. With Dončić entering his prime and the franchise always operating under championship expectations, they’re not in the business of half-measures. If Giannis becomes available this summer, expect L.A. to go all-in - assets, cap space, whatever it takes.
The trade deadline may have come and gone without fireworks in Los Angeles, but the real show might be waiting just a few months down the road.