If you're all-in on the Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Los Angeles Lakers train, you might need to pump the brakes. You should already be proceeding with extreme caution anyway, but if you're not, he may not want to venture to the West Coast. As Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote on Wednesday, the superstar could prefer the other coast.
"That said, there's some buzz in the NBA that Antetokounmpo prefers the East Coast, which is closer to Greece (both by flight and, perhaps more importantly, time zone)."
Pincus added that "some suggest Antetokounmpo doesn't want to play with a ball-dominant lead guard," so the Lakers may not even be at the top of his list, if they're on it at all.
Of course, this is all speculation, and there is also the possibility that Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee if he wants to sign an extension. While that outcome doesn't seem likely, hence all of the chatter, it's an outcome you can't rule out. Giannis himself comes across as being back-and-forth on what he really wants.
If he decides a trade is the next step in his career, it would make sense for him to want to go to an East Coast team. If he doesn't want to play with a ball-dominant lead guard, that leaves... Miami?
Lakers may need to relocate to the East Coast to get Giannis
Antetokounmpo wants to be in a position to win a second title, which, as the past few years have proven, won't happen in Milwaukee. He knows that the West is the superior conference in terms of talent, so that could also factor into his possible desire to stay in the East. Of course, it is a bonus that he wouldn't have to fly over all or half of the United States en route to Greece.
Maybe he would be willing to make an exception for Los Angeles, but even if he were, the Lakers wouldn't be able to put together the best package to get him. Giannis will have leverage in where he ends up next if he's on the move, but the Bucks will want to get as much as they can to begin their next chapter.
For now, Milwaukee is still holding onto the hope that Antetokounmpo will sign a new deal. LA might have better odds at landing him than that happening.
It will still be a couple of months until Giannis trade watch is officially back and stronger than ever, but the speculation didn't end with the deadline. If the Bucks can't climb into play-in range, the chatter will only increase, so go ahead and prepare for that. In the meantime, if what Pincus wrote is true, you can hope that Antetokounmpo will change his stance on the West Coast.