Luka Doncic
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The Lakers trade rumors are heating up ahead of the deadline.
There are plenty of wild NBA trade rumors centered around the Los Angeles Lakers. A recent idea from The Ringer’s Bill Simmons may take the lead for the wildest idea ahead of the NBA trade deadline on February 5, 2026.
Simmons floated a trade pitch that has the Lakers trading Luka Doncic and Maxi Kleber to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo. The founder of The Ringer admitted that it has little chance of happening but wanted to explore the merits of the proposed deal.
“I wanna talk it out,” the analyst explained in a January 23, 2026, episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast.” “The part that makes no sense is Luka going to Milwaukee. But if you’re in Milwaukee, you do this now and you have two weeks to trade Luka, it’s a Luka auction. Remember when all the teams were mad last year?
“Remember last year when like Utah, they were like, we have 17 picks. ‘We would’ve traded all of them for Luka if we knew it was available.’ It’s like, all right, Milwaukee has now acquired Luka,” Simmons added.
“Here’s the auction, let’s go. You guys got two weeks to make us your (best offer) and then they basically just shop him.”
Let’s explore the latest NBA trade rumors.
NBA Trade Rumors: The Bucks Are Still Expected to Explore Dealing Giannis Antetokounmpo
The chances of the Lakers trading Doncic are next to none, but it is an interesting idea to explore. Antetokounmpo is on a three-year, $175 million contract with the Bucks that is slated to go through the 2027-28 season.
The Lakers would be wise to learn from the Dallas Mavericks, who still have not recovered from trading Doncic. Antetokounmpo is dealing with a calf injury, and it will be interesting to see if the Bucks star is still moved at the trade deadline.
The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer reported that Antetokounmpo’s injury will not prevent the superstar from being traded.
“Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, had only sparked further doubt about his future with the franchise by repeatedly airing his increasing frustration during recent postgame media availabilities,” Fischer wrote in a January 24, story titled, “The latest on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future.”
“The result: When contacted in recent days by The Stein Line, multiple officials from rival teams — and some additional well-placed sources — indicated that the league’s No. 1 curiosity as the trade buzzer nears had most definitely become Antetokounmpo’s status rather than potential trades involving Morant, Davis and Porter.”
LeBron James on Rumors of Tension With Lakers: ‘I Don’t Really Care About the Reports’
Much of the Lakers trade rumors will center around LeBron James, not Doncic. Like Doncic, it will still be a surprise if James is dealt, even though there has been plenty of drama. James has attempted to downplay the rumors that there is tension between himself and Lakers ownership.
“Quite frankly, I don’t really get involved in that, or the reports, or whatever the case may be, I’ve seen a lot of it, obviously,” James noted on January 23, per California Post’s Khobi Price.
“I don’t really care about the reports, to be honest…quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles. I really don’t. I don’t care about stories.”