Bucks make Giannis Antetokounmpo trade decision Lakers desperately needed

iannis Antetokounmpo was an unrealistic trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. 

It was well documented that the Lakers wanted to make a small yet beneficial trade before the Feb. 5 deadline and revisit a potential Antetokounmpo deal in the offseason. The only thing is, Los Angeles needed the NBA champion forward to still be on the trade market come summertime for a trade to have a chance of occurring. 

Luckily for the Lakers, they got exactly what they needed.

“The Milwaukee Bucks have indicated to teams that they are keeping Giannis Antetokounmpo through the trade deadline and will start making other trades,” ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Thursday.

The final day of the trade season couldn’t have gone any better for Los Angeles. In addition to landing game-changing sharpshooter Luke Kennard in a trade that sent Gabe Vincent to the Atlanta Hawks, the organization discovered they will have an opportunity to pursue Antetokounmpo in the offseason. 

On Tuesday, The Stein Line’s Marc Stein reported that the Lakers would become a ‘viable threat’ to acquire Antetokounmpo if the Bucks didn’t find a trade partner for the ex-Finals MVP this season. 

With Milwaukee deciding to hold on for Antetokounmpo for now, Los Angeles should prepare to put together their best trade package for the 10-time All-Star once the 2025-26 season concludes. 

More NBA: Lakers have big trade problem hours before deadline, per report