This time last year, no one could've guessed that the Mavericks would trade Luka Dončić, especially not for the low price that the Los Angeles Lakers paid. Lakers fans didn't need a reminder to know how lucky they are, but the latest development in the Giannis Antetokounmpo situation in Milwaukee gave them one, anyway.
On Wednesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Giannis and his agent "are having conversations" with the Bucks about the superstar's future. Those conversations will revolve around "whether his best fit is staying or a move elsewhere."
On ESPN's NBA Today, Brian Windhorst said that Giannis will instruct Milwaukee on where he wants to go, and then the Bucks will try to get the "best possible offer" from that team (or those teams).
Over the summer, Giannis told Milwaukee that the lone other team he wanted to play for was New York, and the two sides discussed a deal. As Charania wrote on Wednesday, "multiple other teams would be expected to emerge as suitors" if both sides conclude that a trade is the best option.
Giannis' future makes the Lakers' trade for Luka Dončić look even better
Assuming that Giannis' destination wishlist would include more than one team, the Knicks, there will be a bidding war for the 31-year-old. That would've been the case last year, too, if the Mavericks made it known that they wanted to trade Luka. Instead, Nico Harrison did LA a massive favor by keeping trade talks on the down low so that no other teams could offer Dallas more. Harrison really wanted Anthony Davis.
Who cares that several other teams could've offered more?
Harrison should've cared more, considering that it ended up costing him his job, and the Mavericks may or may not trade AD before the Feb. 5 deadline.
Not only can the Lakers sit back and count their lucky stars for the millionth time, but they could be a team that Giannis is eyeing if he decides to leave Milwaukee. He has made his desire to win a second championship clear, and LA is a top team in the West. The Lakers won't be able to make the most competitive offer, but it's an option that you can't rule out, at least not yet.
Regardless of what happens, Los Angeles can't lose, since it already has its new face of the franchise. Adding another superstar wouldn't hurt, though.