The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t believed to be in the running for Giannis Antetokounmpo this season.
The Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves are the three teams that have the most realistic shot of making a trade for the 10-time All-Star before the deadline passes (Thursday at 3 p.m.).
However, Los Angeles received a franchise-altering update on their odds of landing Antetokounmpo in the offseason if he remains with the Bucks for the rest of the 2025-26 season.
“The Lakers, league sources say, would then indeed become a very viable threat to land No. 34 (in the summer)," The Stein Line’s Marc Stein wrote Tuesday.
"There is little choice for the Lakers, heading into Thursday's deadline, except to stay patient and avoid deals that involve any long-term salary to maintain maximum flexibility for the spring.”
“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 (who returned to action Tuesday night in Brooklyn after a 19-game injury absence).”
Essentially, the Lakers are hoping that Antetokounmpo isn’t moved by Feb. 5 so they can swoop in and potentially execute a mind-blowing, championship-driven deal for the ex-NBA Finals MVP in the offseason.
Needless to say, Stein’s report is great news for the Lakers, as the notable NBA Insider believes Los Angeles could position themselves perfectly for multiple title runs with just one blockbuster summer trade.
The Lakers will undoubtedly monitor the Warriors, Timberwolves, and Heat’s pursuit of Antetokounmpo this week.
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