Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Lakers
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Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers defends Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ patient approach to the trade deadline may be paying off.
As the franchise pivots into the Luka Dončić era, new league intel suggests the situation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee is moving toward an eventual breaking point — one that could align perfectly with the Lakers’ long-term strategy rather than forcing a rushed, short-term gamble.
Growing League Belief That Giannis-Bucks Split Is Coming
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, citing multiple league sources, there is a rising belief across the NBA that Antetokounmpo’s time with the Bucks is nearing its end — not necessarily now, but soon.
“The cumulative effect of them all… is that they stem from a rising leaguewide belief that a divorce is inevitable,” Fischer wrote in The Stein Line.
One league source told Fischer bluntly: “This is shaping up to be a draft-day kind of thing.”
Another was even more direct: “It’s happening.”
The expectation around the league, per Fischer, is that if Milwaukee does move Antetokounmpo, it is more likely to happen in conjunction with the NBA Draft rather than before the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
Why Waiting Works for the Lakers
That timeline matters — especially for the Lakers.
Due to asset constraints, Los Angeles is effectively blocked from making a credible in-season push for Antetokounmpo. The Lakers currently have only one first-round pick (2031 or 2032) available to trade, and their most valuable movable player, Austin Reaves, carries a modest $13.9 million salary this season.
“If the Bucks hold off until the offseason,” Fischer noted, “teams such as Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers would have access to more tradeable future first-round picks than those teams can put on the table between now and the Feb. 5 trade buzzer.”
That reality helps explain why the Lakers have resisted pressure to force a deadline move.
Lakers Preaching Patience in Luka-Centered Vision
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike and Christian Clark, the Lakers’ internal messaging has been consistent: no realistic deadline trade can address all of their needs.
“Lakers sources have referenced the time it took for Dallas to build out its most optimized rosters around Dončić,” Woike and Clark reported, noting the Lakers still need more athleticism, shooting, and defense.
“No potential move the Lakers make at the deadline will check more than one of those boxes,” the report added. “Some around the team believe the real work will happen in the summer.”
That summer could be transformative. The Lakers are projected to have around $50 million in cap space along with up to three first-round picks available for trades — a dramatically different negotiating position.
Austin Reaves Looms as Key Trade Chip
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves
GettyLuka Dončić and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands after a play.
In a hypothetical Antetokounmpo pursuit, Reaves would almost certainly be central to any Lakers package.
Back in October, Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints suggested Reaves would be the first name Milwaukee would request if talks ever materialized.
“It’s almost a surefire thing,” Irwin said on the Lakers Lounge podcast. “If the Lakers and the Bucks get into trade negotiations for Giannis, the first name Milwaukee is going to ask about is Reaves.”
Reaves declined a four-year, $89.2 million extension last offseason, betting on himself ahead of free agency. If he opts out of his $14.9 million player option for 2026–27, the 27-year-old guard would become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
League expectations for his next contract are soaring. Lakers reporter Jovan Buha has projected a deal north of four years, $120 million, while Woike has suggested Reaves could command north of $40 million annually on the open market.
Giannis Contract Adds Urgency — and Leverage
Antetokounmpo is owed $58.4 million next season and holds a $62.8 million player option for 2027–28, widely expected to be declined in favor of a new long-term deal with his next team.
That financial reality adds urgency for Milwaukee — and leverage for patient suitors.
For the Lakers, the message is clear: rushing now makes little sense. Waiting may put them exactly where they want to be — at the center of the conversation when the league’s biggest domino finally falls.
In a league defined by timing, Los Angeles appears intent on playing the long game.