Lakers among favorites to land Bucks' superstar in blockbuster offseason trade

The Los Angeles Lakers are a franchise built on star power. Always have, always will. To that end, they have drafted their fair share of legends. Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant. But they've just as often acquired their icons through other means. 

They traded for the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal, and they signed LeBron James as a free agent. They continued that trend earlier this year, when they swung possibly the most shocking NBA trade in the history of Association to nab Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks.

Kareem, Shaq, LeBron, and Luka were all legends on their previous teams that were not expected to be traded. That didn't stop the Lakers then, and it won't stop them when the 2025 offseason comes around either. According to those well-informed oddsmakers, the Lakeshow could be in for another blockbuster trade this summer.

Lakers have 3rd-shortest odds to land Bucks superstar

When Damian Lillard was traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to the Milwaukee Bucks, it was because the Blazers were pretty clearly starting to rebuild and the veteran, who will be 35 this summer, wanted a chance to play for a contender.

Pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo, many would have thought he had a great chance to finally grab the ring that eluded him for over a decade in the Pacific Northwest.

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Unfortunately, currently down 2-1 to the Indiana Pacers, it seems that not only are the Bucks going to suffer a third straight first round exit, they're also going to blow the team up. Antetokounmpo could be on his way out, and Lillard is in the same boat. While they're not favorites to land Lillard, the Lakers are definitely in the mix according to Bovada sportsbook.

Lillard would fit in with the Lakers' veteran core in L.A., but he would definitely have to learn how to play off the ball more with Doncic next to him as one of the most ball-dominant players in the league.

The Lakers do need a back-court mate for Doncic, however, so at +450 odds they're definitely in with a shout. And if we've learned anything about Lakers GM Rob Pelinka, it's that he can do the unthinkable.

Ahead of them, however, are two Eastern Conference teams. The Orlando Magic would seem to be a perfect fit, and the Miami Heat were Lillard's original preferred destination before landing with the Bucks. The Dame Lillard sweepstakes will be intriguing indeed if the Bucks do get booted in the First Round again here.

Milwaukee will look to avoid that and draw even in the series in Game 4 on Sunday. The Lakers will be trying to do the same after dropping Game 3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves to go down 2-1 in their First Round series. Game 4 between the Lakers and Wolves takes place in Minnesota on Sunday night too.

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