Just because the Los Angeles Lakers are no longer being discussed as a realistic landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't mean that LA can't benefit from a Giannis trade.
With the Miami Heat widely seen as frontrunners to land the Greek Freak ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft (June 23-24), NBA insiders like ESPN's Brian Windhorst are already wondering about the secondary consequences of a Heat-Giannis deal, particularly for a team like the Lakers.
Kel'el Ware might become available to the Lakers following a Giannis trade
During the most recent episode of the Hoop Collective podcast, Windhorst pointed out that Heat center Kel'el Ware -- who is by all accounts expected to be featured in a Giannis deal -- might become available once again after the trade, seeing as the Milwaukee Bucks could be looking to flip some of their assets from the deal and turn them into further assets.
"If I were the Lakers, and Kel'el Ware got shipped to Milwaukee, I would be on the phone," Windhorst said.
Kel'el Ware would be a very nice fit alongside Luka Doncic
Ware would be an enormously exciting acquisition for the Lakers if they were able to pull this off. A former No. 15 overall pick out of Kentucky, Ware has the size (seven feet tall) and bounciness of a player like Dereck Lively II (thereby giving Doncic a lob threat), but unlike Lively, Ware can also shoot the 3. He was 39.5% from downtown last season for the Heat.
Ware's minutes through his first two NBA seasons have fluctuated under a demanding Erik Spoelstra, but his per-36 minutes stats from last season are head-turning: 18.0 points, 14.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks. Don't forget that in 2024-25, Ware finished No. 6 in NBA Rookie of the Year voting.
Rob Pelinka needs to do everything in his power to get Kel'el Ware if he becomes available
Windhorst was spot on in his assessment that the Lakers should get right on the phone if and when Ware becomes available. Any Lakers fan would feel amazing about entering the season with Ware on the depth chart, even if the other two centers ended up being familiar faces Deandre Ayton (player option this summer) and Jaxson Hayes (unrestricted free agent).
Ware is the perfect type of center to thrive alongside Doncic. It's a wonder he hasn't been discussed more often in Lakers trade discourse until now.
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