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The path to Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Los Angeles Lakers

By Daniel Preciado

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks on the court during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at the Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks on the court during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at the Field House at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 04, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

How LeBron and AD can get Giannis to LA

The Los Angeles Lakers already roster two superstars and both of them are top-five players in the NBA. There is only one rock to go around and the track record of ‘super-teams’ isn’t as spotless as you might expect.

The Miami Heat of the early-2010s and the Golden State Warriors of the mid-2010s are the most recent examples of super-teams to bring home the ultimate prize, but across the NBA’s history, there are only so many success stories.

In a potential acquisition of Giannis, the Lakers would be zigging while the rest of the league is zagging. The NBA is becoming more and more guard-oriented and as we have seen in the NBA playoffs, sometimes going big is the way to counteract teams going small.

Nobody that would be a member of this potential big-three would be a guard on the defensive side of things even if LeBron keeps playing point guard at age 37.

For this to even be a talking point though, AD and LeBron would have to make some sacrifices to make their team better.

LeBron James signed a four-year deal with the Lakers two summers ago, meaning he still has two years remaining on his deal. If LeBron were to opt-out of his fourth year in Los Angeles and re-sign at a lesser dollar figure to bring in Giannis, the financials could work.

LeBron James will be 38 years old in the expiring year of his contract and while it doesn’t seem like he’s going to slow down, Father Time will eventually win out.

Anthony Davis is a free agent after these playoffs wrap up and all indications are that he will re-sign in Los Angeles to a max deal. However, if he were to hold off for one year and simply sign a player option at a lesser dollar value for one more year, the Lakers would hold his Bird Rights and be able to go over the cap if Giannis signed after AD two summers from now.

There is a lot going on here, but it’s not as far-fetched as you might think.

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