Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers, Lakers Giannis trade rumors
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Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers defends Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on November 15, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
All indications and reports show Giannis Antetokounmpo could beon the move, as his future with the Milwaukee Bucks is in greater question than ever before.While the Los Angeles Lakers have been rumored to be a potential trade candidate for the star, they might have one massive roadblock in the way.
That roadblock would be Austin Reaves, who is now playing at an All-Star level and setting himself up for a massive contract next summerin free agency.The Lakers have always been interested in adding superstar talent, but withReaves’ rise, it could make ita lot harder for the team togo after Antetokounmpo.
Writing for The Stein Line, Jake Fischer explained that withReaves’ impending contract extension, a mid-season trade for the Bucks could prove meaningless, as they could lose him in the open market in July.
Eli Gregorski
Austin Reaves will enter free agency this summer after turning down a previous contract extension from the Los Angeles Lakers.
They could offer him more than any other team in the NBA this offseason, a contract which would rival that of Luka Doncic. #NBA
“TheLos Angeles Lakers may dream ofentering the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes someday,”Enzo Flojo recapped for ClutchPoints. “NBA insiders, though, say their path is blocked by one major obstacle:Austin Reaves.”
Additionally, the Lakers lack the draft and trade capital a player like Antetokounmpo would require in anysort of deal. While theydidn’t send a boatload of picks to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, they likely stillwon’t be able to offer anything close to what the Bucks would want in return.
Austin Reaves Could Hold Up A Lakers-Giannis Trade
Even after his best career year last season,it’s pretty easy to see the rise inReaves’ play this year.Through 18 games, he is averaging 28.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on 52.6% shooting. Most recently, in the game in which LeBronJames’ double-digit scoring streak was ended, the star guard finished with 44 points, ten rebounds, and five assists, on 61.9% shooting, andit’s not like that was a one-off.
“In Los Angeles,Reaves is having the best season of his career. He is operating as theLakers’ third star during their 16-5 start,”Flojo wrote. “Reaves has also expanded his on-ball role and strengthened his case for a major payday. On the flip side, that could weaken theLakers’ chances of ever using him to chase a superstar like Giannis.”
Though the Lakers might not be to blame forReaves’ uncertain future, standing in the way of a mid-season Antetokounmpo deal, they did, perhaps unexpectedly, put themselves in that position by only offering him $89 million over the summer, instead of anything close to the $241 million he might get.
If they had offered him a higher deal, he could have been locked down for a few years.With that, it would make the Bucks much more interested in adding him. However, in the final year of his deal, trading for a free agent is only something done by teams looking to make a title push, a position Milwaukee is not in right now.
How Realistic Is A Lakers Trade For Giannis?
Though a Doncic-Antetokounmpowould both be a unique on-court experiment andcreate perhaps the best duo in the NBA, it feels unlikely, regardless of whether Reaves is involvedor not. Los Angelesdoesn’t have a ton of draft assets or young players to send back to Milwaukee. At this point, any package they could offerwouldn’t come close to that of the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, or Miami Heat.
Yes, trading for a superstar,max contract player like Antetokounmpolikely is out of the question, but thatdoesn’t rule out a deal for a non-All-Star, but starter-level wing. It has been consistently reported that the Lakers were still interested in Andrew Wiggins of the Heat, a former champion and forward who could come in as a 3-and-D threat next to Doncic.
“Wiggins has many fans within the Lakers organization.He’s an athletic wing who can defend at a high level, get to the rim at will and finish in heavy traffic and shoot from beyond the arc,”Ashish Mathur wrote for LakersDaily. “A one-time All-Star, Wiggins is making $28.2 million this season. His player option for next season is worth $30.2 million.”
Wiggins is the type of player the Lakers could trade for, but a deal likelywouldn’t include Reaves, as finding anyone around the league who believes the two are on the same tier of player would be difficult.
Miami Heat Vent Account
Never forget that the Miami Heat offered the Lakers Andrew Wiggins for Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht, and a 1st round draft pick. And the Lakers rejected it 😂. Now Wiggins is balling for Miami. And Lakers fans still thought they could’ve gotten him. Should’ve taken the offer
Additionally, Heat president Pat Rileyhas reportedly no interest in making a trade with the Lakers, especially if it means helping James and his hopes of winning a fifth title. Yet still, Los Angeles has proven dangerous in the trade market, but at this point, though still unlikely, a deal for Wiggins feels much more reasonable than one for Antetokounmpo.