Giannis Antetokounmpo
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Giannis Antetokounmpo during a game against the Atlanta Hawks in January 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers have largely been kept on the periphery of trade discussions surrounding Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Instead, the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks have emerged as the “most active suitors for a deal” ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
In his initial report on January 28, Charania noted that Milwaukee is under no pressure to move Antetokounmpo before the deadline and could carry the situation into the offseason if its asking price of a “blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks” is not met.
Should that scenario unfold, the Lakers’ name could enter the conversation.
Lakers Could Emerge If Antetokounmpo Saga Drags On
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, a prolonged Antetokounmpo timeline could open the door for Los Angeles to become a legitimate factor.
“No one is talking about the Lakers as a factor in The Giannis Sweepstakes right now because they’re not a factor if a trade is going to happen by week’s end,” Stein reported, via Silver Screen and Roll. “They don’t have enough tradeable assets to join the in-season bidders.”
“But if the Bucks do ultimately decide to take this saga into that spring …The Lakers, league sources say, would then indeed become a very viable threat to land No. 34.”
As things stand ahead of the deadline, the Lakers’ primary trade assets are centered on the expiring contracts of Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million), along with second-year guard Dalton Knecht.
However, league-wide interest in those assets has reportedly been minimal.
Compounding matters, Los Angeles controls only one tradable first-round pick, either in 2031 or 2032, a limitation that has made it difficult to compete in conversations involving top-tier talent.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin has previously reported that general manager Rob Pelinka has explored the possibility of flipping that lone first-rounder into multiple future selections.
Still, waiting until the offseason remains the more realistic, and potentially preferred, route.
McMenamin’s colleagues Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst have also noted that by July, the Lakers could have access to three tradable first-round picks regardless, along with substantial cap space, dramatically improving their leverage.
Patience Over Pressure at the Trade Deadline
NBA insider Jake Fischer believes the Lakers’ inability to land top target Keon Ellis, who was recently dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers, reflects a broader organizational philosophy rather than a single missed opportunity.
Rather than pushing aggressively to force deals, Fischer suggests that Pelinka is intentionally avoiding moves that could compromise long-term flexibility.
According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, the Lakers could have more than $55 million in available cap space this summer, with both LeBron James and Austin Reaves slated to hit free agency.
Preserving that financial flexibility appears to be a guiding principle as the deadline approaches.
“The hope for the purple-and-gold would then be to use their considerable projected salary cap space to be able to take in a contract like Antetokounmpo’s via trade — or another expensive star if one shakes loose post-playoffs — to pair with backcourt cornerstones Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves,” Stein added.
“And dealing with the Lakers in such a scenario would almost certainly spare the Bucks from getting saddled with unwanted contracts.”
With James widely expected to come off the books and significant cap room opening up, the Lakers would have a clear runway to re-sign Reaves and continue building around Luka Doncic.
Antetokounmpo would represent the type of franchise-altering superstar addition the Lakers have historically pursued.
While it remains a long shot, the growing indicators suggest Pelinka is prepared to exercise restraint at the trade deadline, either standing pat or making a marginal move, before fully pivoting toward an offseason that could offer far greater flexibility and upside.