Los Angeles Lakers Will Make ‘Hard Push’ To Acquire Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo In Offseason
The Los Angeles Lakers will make a “hard push” to acquire Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, according to NBA reporter Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
The Lakers’ only trade deadline move was trading Gabe Vincent to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard. Los Angeles is saving its draft capital and cap space for Antetokounmpo.
“The Lakers didn’t make a splashy move when they acquired sharpshooter Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick Thursday morning before the NBA trade deadline, but the deal allowed L.A. to address its needs now while still saving draft capital so it can join the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes over the summer, according to people not authorized to speak publicly,” Turner wrote. “The Lakers will make a hard push to acquire the All-Star forward during the summer, people with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Times, after the Milwaukee Bucks declined to deal the two-time most valuable player by the noon deadline.
“People close to Antetokounmpo said the New York Knicks and Miami Heat are his preferred destinations, but he would not rule out the Lakers.”
In the offseason, the Lakers can offer up to three first-round picks to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo. In addition, Los Angeles can absorb Antetokounmpo’s contract into cap space without Milwaukee having to take back potentially unwanted salary.
LeBron James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. It’s unknown whether the NBA legend will retire or continue playing.
The Lakers’ goal is to pair Luka Dončić with another superstar and Antetokounmpo fits that bill. Austin Reaves is expected to decline his player option for next season and become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but most people expect Los Angeles to re-sign the talented shooting guard.
One of the greatest players in NBA history, Antetokounmpo has a player option worth $62.8 million for the 2027-28 season. The Greek Freak doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t control where the Bucks trade him.
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, one-time Finals MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year and 10-time All-Star. He holds career averages of 24.0 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game.
As of this writing, the Lakers are in sixth place in the West, while the Bucks are in 12th place in the East.
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