The NBA trade deadline may have come and gone, but the Giannis Antetokounmpo rumor mill is only taking a breather-not shutting down. The two-time MVP is still in Milwaukee for now, but once the offseason hits, the conversation around his future is expected to ramp up in a big way. And if he even hints at wanting out, you can bet the Lakers will be one of the first teams knocking on the door.
That’s just how it goes when a generational talent becomes even remotely available. The Lakers, with their Hollywood pedigree and history of superstar pairings, are always in the mix.
It’s in their DNA. And with Rob Pelinka already pulling off one blockbuster by bringing in Luka Dončić at last year’s deadline, it’s fair to wonder if another seismic move could be coming-especially with LeBron James’ future still hanging in the balance.
Whether LeBron retires, moves on, or restructures his deal, there could be some serious flexibility in L.A. this summer.
On a recent episode of No Fouls Given, former NBA players Danny Green and Paul Pierce tackled the idea of Giannis heading to Los Angeles. Green didn’t mince words.
“No s***, I mean yeah,” he said. “Everybody should pursue Giannis if they’re letting him go, but of course the Lakers can f***** use him, I mean what?”
Green’s take was clear: if Giannis is on the market, the Lakers need to be in the conversation. He even admitted he’d be willing to part with young fan-favorite Austin Reaves if that’s what it took to land the Greek Freak. That’s no small statement, considering how much Reaves has grown into his role in L.A.
But Pierce pumped the brakes. He questioned whether the fit would even work.
“I’m not sure if I would look for that,” Pierce said. “I don’t think it’s a good fit.
I’ve never seen Giannis play with a ball-dominant guard. I haven’t really seen him play off the ball really well like he did in his younger days.
He’s more effective when he’s going downhill, having the ball at the top of the key, and I don’t see Luka just kind of spotting up. I don’t think that’s the fit.”
It’s a valid concern. Luka and Giannis are both high-usage players who thrive with the ball in their hands.
Luka operates at his own pace-methodical, surgical, always in control. Giannis, on the other hand, is a freight train in transition, devastating when he’s attacking from the top of the key.
Their styles don’t naturally complement each other, at least not on paper.
Green, after hearing Pierce’s breakdown, started to come around to the idea that maybe New York-specifically the Knicks-might be a better landing spot for Giannis. That’s the kind of shift that happens when you start looking beyond the star power and focus on basketball fit.
Still, history tells us that talent often finds a way to work itself out. Remember the early doubts about LeBron and Dwyane Wade coexisting in Miami?
Or the questions about Luka and LeBron sharing the floor in L.A.? The Heat figured it out and won two titles.
And while the Luka-LeBron experiment hasn’t reached those heights yet, the pairing has been more functional than many expected.
The bottom line is this: when a player like Giannis becomes available, you don’t overthink it. You get the deal done and figure out the rest later. That’s especially true for a franchise like the Lakers, who understand better than anyone how to build around stars.
Pierce has floated the idea in the past of trading LeBron and Reaves to bring in a dominant big man and beef up the Lakers’ defense. Giannis would certainly check that box.
He’s a five-time All-Defensive selection and took home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2020. He’s not a traditional post-up center, but with his length, mobility, and instincts, he’s a one-man defensive system.
You don’t need a classic big when you’ve got Giannis patrolling the paint and switching on the perimeter.
Pairing him with Luka would give the Lakers two of the top five players in the league. That’s the kind of duo that can carry a team deep into the playoffs, even if the supporting cast takes a hit and the draft cupboard gets emptied. The star power alone would make them instant contenders-and in L.A., that’s always the goal.
So now the ball is in Giannis’ court. If he decides he’s ready to move on from Milwaukee, the Lakers should absolutely be making calls.
Because when you have a chance to land a player like Giannis, you don’t wait. You act.