While the Los Angeles Lakers gear up for the 2023-24 season speculation has begun around the team’s long-term future. There is a good chance that the 2023-24 season is the last of the Anthony Davis-LeBron James partnership so fans are looking ahead to find who might be the next star to come to LA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has done nothing but add fuel to that fire this offseason. Giannis made it clear in an interview with The New York Times that winning is his No. 1 goal and that if the Milwaukee Bucks do not have the same vision he is not afraid to play elsewhere.
This is something that Giannis has not backtracked, either. Instead, the Greek Freak has doubled down on the assertion with comments that make it seem like he is destined to be a Laker.
All that being said, if Giannis wants to do the Bucks a favor and allow the team to trade him before he becomes a free agent the Lakers might not have much of a chance. Yossi Gozlan of Hoops Hype ranked all of the potential Giannis trade destinations and the Lakers checked in at a disappointing ranking: eighth out of nine teams.
"“The Los Angeles Lakers are short on trade assets at the moment since they owe two first-round picks to other teams. They also don’t have any players with substantial trade value outside of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves. The Lakers’ strongest point of leverage would be their ability to sign Antetokounmpo outright in 2025 free agency if James is no longer with the team by then. If Antetokounmpo signals a desire to join the Lakers as a free agent, that could motivate the Bucks the preemptively trade him there.”"
The only way for Giannis Antetokounmpo to join the Lakers is via free agency
While we would love to fire back and name all of the reasons why the Lakers are a great trade destination for Giannis, the fact of the matter is that Los Angeles does not have the assets necessary to outbid other teams.
Even if the deal was centered around Austin Reaves it would not be enough. Milwaukee is going to look for a draft haul and will likely demand one of the largest trade returns in NBA history. Los Angeles already did this once with Anthony Davis and the team does not have the resources to do it again.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, a Giannis trade in the future might be the most likely outcome. Giannis is a stand-up guy and the Bucks have done a lot for him and his career. Instead of just leaving the team for nothing, Giannis seems like the kind of player who would want Milwaukee to be able to hit the reset button and get assets in return. He likely would demand a trade out of a place of love.
And if that is the case then the Lakers are out of the running, plain and simple. Instead, a team with capital and the ability to extend Giannis would be the frontrunners to get a deal done. Los Angeles wouldn’t even get a chance in free agency, either, as Giannis would likely sign a new deal with his new team.