The NBA commerce deadline has already delivered blockbuster motion, however the league’s largest domino should still be standing – Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Bucks celebrity continues to headline hypothesis, and whereas a midseason deal seems unlikely, the Lakers are quietly rising as a reputable offseason contender for the previous MVP.
Milwaukee are struggling in 2025-26 and it has solely fueled additional debate about Antetokounmpo and his long-term future.
With the Bucks struggling to stay aggressive, a number of groups have begun setting up potential commerce gives in hopes of touchdown one of many league’s most dominant forces.
Nonetheless, the timing of any transfer could possibly be essential, particularly with the Lakers anticipated to realize extra flexibility after the season.
“Nobody is speaking in regards to the Lakers as a think about The Giannis Sweepstakes proper now as a result of they’re not an element if a commerce goes to occur by week’s finish,” Marc Stein mentioned.
“They don’t have sufficient tradeable belongings to affix the in-season bidders.
“But when the Bucks do finally resolve to take this saga into that spring …
“The Lakers, league sources say, would then certainly grow to be a really viable risk to land No. 34.
“There may be little alternative for the Lakers, heading into Thursday’s deadline, besides to remain affected person and keep away from offers that contain any long-term wage to keep up most flexibility for the spring. The hope for the purple-and-gold would then be to make use of their appreciable projected wage cap area to have the ability to absorb a contract like Antetokounmpo’s through commerce — or one other costly star if one shakes free post-playoffs — to pair with backcourt cornerstones Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (who returned to motion Tuesday evening in Brooklyn after a 19-game damage absence). And coping with the Lakers in such a situation would nearly actually spare the Bucks from getting saddled with undesirable contracts.”
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