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The Los Angeles Lakers may not have the perfect roster now, but one game-changing offseason could quickly change that.
Considering the Milwaukee Bucks’ 10-time All-Star and NBA champion forward will be among the Lakers’ trade targets, it makes sense why Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus crafted a hypothetical trade scenario that would land Los Angeles their dream $175 million forward.
In Pincus’ opinion, the Lakers would have to part ways with their disgruntled second-year guard (Dalton Knecht, who wants a fresh start), Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, Nick Smith Jr., a 2031 first-rounder, and a 2032 protected first-round swap.
“A Lakers' offer (for Giannis Antetokounmpo) relies heavily on Milwaukee's willingness to give Reaves a near-max contract via sign-and-trade,” Pincus wrote last Thursday. “Reaves is one of the NBA's top free agents this summer, a talented ball-handling scorer. If the Bucks covet Reaves and if Antetokounmpo wants to play with Luka Dončić in Los Angeles, this is a feasible solution.”
“The Bucks get three forwards in the deal with Vanderbilt, LaRavia, and Knecht, plus a former first-round pick in Smith. Only Vanderbilt's salary extends beyond the 2026-27 season, though Milwaukee can opt Knecht into another year.”
“If the Bucks don't want to invest as heavily, a package can be assembled around Rui Hachimura via sign-and-trade, with the Lakers providing additional first-round draft compensation. L.A. has No. 25, two future firsts, and can add in a few first-round swaps as well.”
Like the Warriors, the Lakers aren’t in great shape to land Antetokounmpo. Although the Stein Line’s Jake Fischer didn’t rule out the possibility of the Lakers landing the former Defensive Player of the Year this summer, he made one statement that should concern Los Angeles: Antetokounmpo would prefer not to join a Western Conference franchise.
It also doesn’t help that the Lakers may make Reaves untouchable in sign-and-trade talks, per Luka Doncic’s request. Los Angeles undoubtedly has the draft capital to intrigue the Bucks, but there may be one too many uncontrollable factors for the 17-time NBA champions to strike gold with Antetokounmpo.
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