With information that celebrity Giannis Antetokounmpo might want out of Milwaukee, Los Angeles Lakers followers are little doubt dreaming up methods of pairing him with Luka Dončić and LeBron James.
That may sound delusional, and maybe it’s, however NBA analyst Sam Quinn of CBS Sports activities identified a method that Giannis may very well be traded to the Lakers. As Quinn factors out, whereas the Lakers seemingly haven’t got sufficient belongings to pry him from the Milwaukee Bucks, additionally they did not seem to have sufficient to land Doncic both.
“The Lakers can not conceivably construct a bundle to commerce for Giannis.” Bro the Lakers simply obtained Luka for AD and a single decide. Regular guidelines do not apply to them. If Giannis expresses any curiosity within the Lakers they will make it occur. They’ve as a lot to commerce because the Knicks do. https://t.co/ewuGC9Zz1X
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) October 7, 2025
That may be a truthful level, with the Lakers pulling a rabbit out of a hat to accumulate Doncic with out having to surrender all of their first-round picks. That offers them further belongings to pursue Giannis.
The Lakers have a controversial path to a Giannis Antetokounmpo commerce
The obvious Lakers commerce bundle would see them ship out Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Gabe Vincent plus two firsts and two decide swaps to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo. That may not seem to be an incredible provide for the Bucks.
But when Giannis makes it clear that he solely desires to play for the New York Knicks or the Lakers, that may restrict the variety of affords Milwaukee would obtain. In that situation, the Lakers’ provide would greatest the Knicks’ provide except they traded Karl-Anthony Cities to a 3rd crew for a number of first-round picks.
Reaves would undoubtedly be the centerpiece of a possible deal for the Lakers, with him having performed like a borderline all-star throughout the second half of final season. Add in two firsts and two decide swaps, and it is nonetheless not sufficient for the Bucks, however most trades involving superstars are sometimes lopsided.
In truth, most of these trades seemingly contain the Lakers being on the profitable finish of that deal. Lakers followers would love nothing greater than to thumb their noses at the remainder of the league.
The Lakers have an out of doors shot at Giannis Antetokounmpo
Think about a trio of LeBron, Doncic, and Giannis—no less than for a season—earlier than LeBron both retires or leaves in free company after subsequent season. That might give them one playoff run collectively and probably give them their greatest probability at a championship.
After that, Doncic and Giannis can be the centerpiece of the Lakers for the subsequent few seasons, extending their championship home windows—however provided that they will in some way drive their method into the Giannis sweepstakes.
All in all, the Lakers might have a path to buying and selling for Antetokounmpo in any case. Giannis must demand solely to play for the Lakers, during which case Reaves, expiring contracts, and all of L.A.’s first-round picks can be the potential provide to land the previous two-time MVP.
