We are over a day away from the NBA trade deadline, and every team in the league is doing its best to try to set itself up for the future.
Some are looking to get off big contracts as they head into the draft, with a slew of generational talents waiting. Others are hoarding draft capital and hoping to wait out the current top teams until they can rise as contenders.
And then there are the big game Buck hunters, who want to get multi-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on their team.
The leaders, according to multiple reports, are the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Golden State Warriors, with others in the mix attempting their best shot.
The Los Angeles Lakers are not seen as a viable contender for the Greek superstar at the trade deadline, with a lack of salary-cap movement on the roster and an unwillingness to offer Austin Reaves as a possible trade chip.
Yet one NBA insider gave a significant update on their chances with Antetokounmpo if this trade saga doesn’t end on Thursday and stretches into the offseason.
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NBA correspondent and senior insider Marc Stein reported that the Lakers would become a “viable threat” to acquire Antetokounmpo in the case he isn’t moved by the deadline.
The reason is that this upcoming offseason, the Lakers will shed $50 million or more in cap space with the exits of several players, most notably LeBron James.
James and the Lakers have had a rocky 2026 thus far, and it appears both sides are headed for a divorce once the season ends.
The separation would open the doors for more flexibility from the Lakers, with Stein believing that general manager Rob Pelinka wants to build a trio of Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Antetokounmpo as the team’s central core for the foreseeable future.
Newsweek