Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks follows LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers
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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks follows LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers
The only question now seems to be not if, but when. That’s where things stand for NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his future, and if the Lakers want to find their way in to a potential deal, there is only one path–and it’s a longshot. It would have to start with not only including Austin Reaves, but tossing in LeBron James as well as part of a wider deal that would send him elsewhere.
That’s how one Eastern Conference GM sees it.
“You could package everything they’ve got outside of LeBron and Luke (Doncic) but you won’t get the Bucks to ‘Yes’ on a trade, even as good as Reaves has been,” the GM said. “You’re not getting Giannis Antetokounmpo for Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura and three other mid-rotation guys plus one pick. The only way to get the assets is to send out LeBron, assuming he would waive his no-trade (clause).
“I don’t think they would do that with LeBron in midseason, and I don’t think that if Giannis gives the Bucks a list that it has L.A. on the top. But there’s no other way for Giannis to get to the Lakers that I can see unless it’s LeBron or Luka going out.”
Path Finally Clear for Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade?
All this became truly relevant only on Wednesday, when the longstanding staring contest between Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks appears to have come to a head. For months now, there have been rumblings about a potential Antetokounmpo trade, but both the Bucks and the player have refused to make the first move–the Bucks have not sought out trades in earnest and Antetokounmpo has insisted he won’t ask for a deal.
But a blink from Antetokounmpo, who is injured with a strained calf and will miss at least a month, appears to be bringing the stare-down to a close. Now, the Bucks are listening to inquiries.
As ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on X, “Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is ready for a new home at the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline or in the offseason as several rival teams make aggressive offers to the Milwaukee Bucks for him, and the franchise is starting to listen, league sources tell ESPN.”
Lakers Were Once a Favored Destination
It’s long been rumored that Antetokounmpo, if he were to leave Milwaukee, would seek a deal to the Lakers or Clippers, or perhaps the Knicks, with the Miami Heat as an option, too. He has not submitted any kind of formal list, but with the Lakers currently in control of only one tradeable future first-rounder, and with the team well devoid of young talent, there’s no way to entice the Bucks into a deal.
A third team would have to be involved, but threading the needle of finding a team that would get James to waive his no-trade and would help Milwaukee get assets is difficult. Cleveland would be the obvious target, but as a second-apron team, they’re restricted in how they aggregate players.
Maybe Giannis would want to come to the Lakers. Maybe the Lakers would desperately want that to happen. But the pieces just do not seem to be there.