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 Los Angeles Lakers are expected to explore a bold offseason path that could include a pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, with the goal of pairing the two-time MVP alongside new franchise centerpiece Luka Dončić.
Whether that vision materializes remains uncertain. League consensus suggests the Lakers face long odds — at least initially.
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, rival scouts and executives believe Los Angeles currently lacks the firepower to outbid competitors, even as the team prepares to increase its draft capital this summer.
“The team will have three first-round picks available on draft night to make their best offer,” Woike wrote. “Rival scouts and executives don’t believe it’ll be enough, but the Lakers can and should try.”
Non-Factors at the Trade Deadline
The Lakers’ inability to engage seriously in Antetokounmpo talks at the trade deadline stemmed from structural limitations rather than a lack of interest.
Because of prior obligations and the NBA’s Stepien Rule, Los Angeles had only one first-round pick available to trade during the season — either its 2031 or 2032 selection. That restriction alone placed the Lakers behind teams with deeper draft inventories and greater flexibility to construct multi-pick offers.
Their most valuable on-roster trade asset, Austin Reaves, earns $13.9 million this season. While that team-friendly deal enhances his on-court value, it complicated star-level trade construction. Reaves’ salary fell well short of Antetokounmpo’s max figure and below the “blue-chip” threshold Milwaukee was believed to prefer in deadline negotiations.
Without multiple first-round picks or a premium young player on a scalable contract, league executives viewed the Lakers as spectators rather than participants in February’s market.
Lakers Remain on Giannis’ Radar Despite Asset Concerns
Despite those constraints, the Lakers’ name continues to surface in long-term Antetokounmpo discussions.
Howard Beck of The Ringer said Los Angeles remains a franchise to monitor from Giannis’ perspective, even if the in-season asset math never aligned.
“I was told recently that the Lakers were a team to keep an eye on from Giannis’ standpoint,” Beck said on The Zach Lowe Show on Jan. 29. “But again, there’s a difficulty there in terms of trade assets.”
That difficulty, Beck noted, is largely a matter of timing.
Offseason Changes Could Reshape Lakers’ Giannis Bid
Once the calendar flips to the offseason, the Lakers’ flexibility improves significantly.
By summer, Los Angeles is projected to control three first-round picks, restoring leverage that simply did not exist at the deadline. The Lakers will also gain clarity on the futures of LeBron James and Reaves — variables that could dramatically alter trade constructions.
James, who will be 41, is expected to reach unrestricted free agency, a development that could open additional cap and roster pathways. Reaves’ contract situation, meanwhile, could transform from an obstacle into an asset.
Under NBA rules, only the Lakers can offer Reaves a five-year maximum contract, creating a sign-and-trade mechanism that was unavailable during the season.
Austin Reaves Could Become a Centerpiece, Not a Limitation
According to Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale, a Reaves max contract projects to five years, $240.7 million, with an average annual value of $48.14 million — far closer to Antetokounmpo’s projected $58.5 million salary next season.
At that point, Reaves could function as a legitimate salary-matching pillar in a blockbuster trade rather than a limiting factor. Any such scenario would require Reaves’ cooperation, as he would be an unrestricted free agent whose consent is necessary in a sign-and-trade.
Competitive Market Awaits Lakers in Giannis Sweepstakes
Antetokounmpo is expected to command a more robust market in the offseason than at the deadline, with more teams unlocking draft picks and financial flexibility.
The Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat are all projected to control more draft capital than the Lakers. The New York Knicks, Antetokounmpo’s reported preferred destination last summer, will also be positioned with multiple picks.
Still, the Lakers hold a potential trump card in Reaves, who at 27 is entering his prime and could appeal to the Milwaukee Bucks as either a foundational piece or a tradeable asset to jumpstart a retool.
For now, the Lakers’ Giannis dream remains aspirational. But as offseason flexibility replaces deadline constraints, Los Angeles is poised to test whether timing — rather than interest — was the true barrier all along.