With rumblings of a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade bounding throughout the NBA landscape, the Los Angeles Lakers will undoubtedly keep their ears to the pulse. And based on a recent statement from Howard Beck of The Ringer, Lakers fans should be raising their eyebrows.
“I was told recently that the Lakers were a team to keep an eye on from Giannis’ standpoint, just as another team of interest,” Beck said on a recent edition of The Zach Lowe Show. Though Beck admitted the Lakers don’t have the strongest offer right now, they could over the summer, which could make things very interesting.
And it may be better for the Milwaukee Bucks to wait to make a deal anyway.
Lakers could have great Giannis trade package this summer
Right now, the Lakers could only include one first-round pick in a potential deal for Antetokounmpo. Obviously, that wouldn’t be nearly enough to get the job done.
Unless they decided to go full Nico Harrison and trade Luka Doncic to Milwaukee (which would never happen in a million years), Antetokounmpo likely won’t be a Laker this year.
But this summer, everything could change, because the Lakers could offer a potential package that might rival anyone else’s around the entire NBA.
As Beck noted during his podcast appearance, the Lakers could potentially offer three firsts this summer: Their pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, as well as selections in 2031 and 2033.
Obviously, those picks may not be amazing, especially if Doncic and Antetokounmpo remained teamed up for a while, but who knows what could happen in eight years?
On top of that, the Lakers could potentially offer up Austin Reaves in a sign-and-trade. Reaves plus the picks would give the Lakers one of the best offers in the league for Antetokounmpo.
LA fans probably aren’t too keen to give up on Reaves. But if there were any player around the league who they should be willing to pay the ultimate premium for, it might be Antetokounmpo.
Pairing him up with Doncic would immediately give the Lakers one of the best duos in NBA history, and from there, they could focus on building the roster around them.
They would need to find elite defenders and three-point shooters, as well as a center that would work well next to both superstars. But still, the talent of Doncic and Antetokounmpo would make it all worth it.
So, even though the Lakers probably aren’t a top suitor for Antetokounmpo right now, they could offer a monster package this summer.