Lakers could land Giannis Antetokounmpo after trade request next year, offer ex-OU star Austin Reaves

The Los Angeles Lakers could be a suitor for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo next year, should the “Greek Freak” have the City of Angels on his preferred list of trade destinations.

CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn believes the timing could be right for a Giannis blockbuster next year, and not this year, because Austin Reaves would be on an expiring contract and L.A. would have an extra tradeable draft pick.

“...it's possible that there are teams who are not currently positioned to trade for Antetokounmpo but could be in a year,” Quinn wrote.

“The obvious example of such a team would be the Lakers. Right now, Los Angeles only has one tradable first-round pick. That's in 2031. But next summer, that number jumps to three: their 2026, 2031 and 2033 selections. That makes a trade a bit more plausible, especially with a signed-and-traded Austin Reaves in the mix as well. While the Lakers could trade Reaves now, the Bucks would be getting him with no long-term assurances. He's virtually unextendable at his low present salary, so Milwaukee would likely prefer to be able to negotiate a sign-and-trade first. This obviously wouldn't represent a fair return in a trade for Antetokounmpo, but on an expiring contract, he'd have far more leverage to scare off other teams.”

The Lakers will likely be without LeBron James by the summer of 2026. James is being linked to one last return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, though it won’t happen anytime soon via trade. LeBron has also long been linked to teaming up with Steph Curry on the Golden State Warriors, despite the latter deeming it unlikely this past December.

The Dallas Mavericks loom as perhaps the greatest threat to steal James because of his championship ties to Kyrie Irving from his Cavs career and the 2020 bubble championship with Anthony Davis on the Lakers.

With James on the way out, adding a second star to pair with Luka Doncic becomes a priority for Rob Pelinka.

Would he go for Antetokounmpo, though, or would he wait for the summer of 2028 to sign Nikola Jokic?

Time will tell. But consider the Lakers as live threats for both if Antetokounmpo and/or Jokic become available.