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Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks pushes Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers for position during a 105-101 Bucks win at Crypto.com Arena on January 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
The Los Angeles Lakers are known for having superstars across their illustrious NBA history, and this summer, the team is expected to once again go out and trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo in hopes of pairing him with Luka Doncic for the future.
It’s fair to say Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks has been up in the air for a while, but now, his time with the team may have reached a tipping point. Based on the latest report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, a ‘divorce’ between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks looks more likely than ever.
Amick has also previously reported that the Lakers are expected to make an ‘all-out pursuit‘ for an Antetokounmpo trade this summer, and while that would only happen if the Greek star asked out, while previously just a possibility, that now feels inevitable.
Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘Divorce’ News With Bucks
There’s a lot going on between Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee right now. For starters, he hyperextended his knee last week, and it was reported by Shams Charania that while the star wants to play, the team wants to keep him out. It only adds another chapter to what now feels like a growing problem between he and the Bucks.
Shams Charania
Just in on NBA Today — the Bucks and Giannis are in disagreement about his future, again:
Then, head coach Doc Rivers, after the NBPA called out the team for not playing Antetokounmpo when he’s healthy, told reporters straight-up that the superstar isn’t healthy, and that Milwaukee has no reason to play him right now.
“He’s progressing,” Rivers said on Wednesday. “He’s just not healthy.”
Most recently, Amick reported that the most likely future between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks is a ‘divorce.’ That’s been on the table for a while, and while the idea quieted after he wasn’t traded at the deadline, the injury drama has only ramped that back up.
“The team’s current stance — that he won’t be medically cleared to play despite the strong indications that he believes he’s good to go — is the clearest sign yet that these two parties are headed for a divorce in the summer,” he wrote.
NBA Base
The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo are reportedly headed for a “divorce” this summer, per @sam_amick
“The team’s current stance — that he won’t be medically cleared to play despite the strong indications that he believes he’s good to go — is the clearest sign yet
“And whether the Bucks are trying to preserve his health for an eventual trade, improve their draft position, or both, the fact that this approach is directly at odds with Antetokounmpo’s desires speaks volumes about the state of affairs in this relationship.”
Lakers Only Stand To Benefit From Giannis ‘Divorce’ News For Potential Trade Rumors
While the Antetokounmpo drama with the Bucks isn’t a good sign for his future with the team, especially given all he’s done for the franchise, the Lakers stand to benefit from his apparent growing frustration with the team.
Amick reported around the trade deadline that Los Angeles will make an all-out pursuit for the 2021 Finals MVP. While they weren’t one of the four teams mentioned in the hunt for him at the trade deadline, with at least $55 million in expected salary cap space this summer, they’ll be well positioned to offer Milwaukee a lot back for Antetokounmpo.
“(The) Lakers, for example, who are known to be planning anall-out pursuit of theBucks’ big man in the summer,”he wrote. “Even if they ultimately fall short of landing him, that sort of well-publicized pressure typically signals to other suitors thatthey’d betterbe prepared to come with serious offers.”
Additionally, while the Lakers have eyes for several top trade and free agent targets this summer as well, Antetokounmpo remains the ‘big prize’ according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“The Lakers, team sources told ESPN, obviously see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star asks for a trade out of Milwaukee,”McMenamin wrote. “A Western Conference executive told ESPN he believes Antetokounmpo is the “big prize”the Lakers hope to land, should the Milwaukee Bucks decide to trade the 2021 NBA Finals MVP in the offseason.”
NBACentral
The Lakers reportedly believe they have a good shot at Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, per @mcten
“The Lakers, team sources told ESPN, obviously see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star asks for a
Though it might be sad to see the Greek Freak’s future coming to an end in Milwaukee, especially with how everything is going down over the past few months, it only means good news for a team like the Lakers with cap space and assets as they look to build for the future.
Lakers trade rumors for Antetokounmpo will continue into the offseason, and while he will carry a massive price tag, expect them to lead the race to land the superstar.