It's not a certainty that the Bucks will trade Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer, but if they do, the Los Angeles Lakers will be in the mix. There is a chance that the superstar could make the switch to purple and gold as soon as next month, as Jimmy Haslam said on Wednesday that Milwaukee wants to "resolve" the 31-year-old's future before June's draft.
Antetokounmpo could always decide to stay in Milwaukee, opting to sign an extension with the team in October whenever he becomes eligible. The Bucks will want an answer from him well before then, though.
Based on Giannis' desire to win a second championship, you have to think that he will decide to leave Wisconsin, especially after how the past few seasons have gone. Milwaukee hasn't made it past the first round of the playoffs since 2022, and its future doesn't look much better. It needs the return package that it would get from Antetokounmpo. Delaying a trade will only make things worse.
That's where the Lakers come in.
Jimmy Haslam says they are going to make a decision on Giannis' future before the NBA Draft and stresses that communication has been good between them despite what some "ESPN" writers say. pic.twitter.com/yx0QMhPiLh
— Karley Marotta (@Karley_Marotta) May 6, 2026
Bucks want to resolve Giannis Antetokounmpo saga before draft
Los Angeles will have three tradable first-round picks over the summer, but even if the front office wanted to use those to cash in on Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee still may not be moved enough. It could come down to parting with Austin Reaves, and you probably feel strongly about not going that route, even for a player of Antetokounmpo's caliber.
What would help the Lakers is if Giannis specifically requests a trade to LA, as he will have some pull in where he goes because of his contract status. Los Angeles, or any other interested team, won't want to trade for him without confirmation that he wants to be there long-term.
Given what Antetokounmpo has meant to Milwaukee, the Bucks could also be willing to help him get to where he wants to go. Or they could be solely focused on getting the best possible offer, specifically on getting a lottery pick in this year's draft.
Either way, the Lakers will be in play because of who they are, and Antetokounmpo should want to play alongside Luka Dončić. Los Angeles will have to decide how far it's willing to go to make that happen. How the rest of the second round shakes out could be a factor, though LA is without its main superstar.
If the Lakers do chase after Giannis and put everything on the table to try to help that dream become reality, he could call LA his next home in the matter of a few short weeks. Or, at the very least, they could help him stay away from the West.
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