For many in Los Angeles, the best-case scenario for what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo during the offseason is him ending up in purple and gold. For the sake of argument here, let's accept that as more or less true. If that is the case, what is the second-best outcome?
If Giannis cannot be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, what would be the next best scenario? The easy answer to that is having Antetokounmpo stay in the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference is already loaded with talent and competition. Adding Antetokounmpo to the mix would only further increase the stiff path for any team trying to make it out of the West.
A new report from Shams Charania mentioned that Giannis came very close to relocating and staying in the Eastern Conference before the 2026 trade deadline. It is a scenario the Lakers will want to repeat itself, should they not have a fair chance at winning the sweepstakes themselves.
Charania wrote, "Team sources said the [Milwaukee] Bucks seriously considered the [Miami] Heat's offer, which centered on Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, other players and multiple draft picks and pick swaps. Milwaukee contemplated moving forward with Miami on Feb. 4."
Lakers should want Giannis to stay in the East if he doesn't join them
The Oklahoma City Thunder, the San Antonio Spurs, and the Denver Nuggets — those are just three of the dreaded matchups the Lakers will need to navigate in the upcoming years. With the everchanging nature of the NBA, someone is bound to join that group too.
The Lakers' hope should be that it isn't a team that adds Giannis during the summer. Unless, of course, that squad is themselves.
Winning with Luka Doncic is something the Lakers want to do over the next few years. The superstar point guard is entering his prime and the Western Conference Playoffs are already a bloodbath. Adding a top-five player to the mix, when healthy, is yet another formidable obstacle.
Teams like the Heat and New York Knicks have been linked plenty and often to Antetokounmpo's services. Even teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers were brought up in Charania's report.
All of those would be preferrable to potentially encountering yet another juggernaut in the West.
Teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors were also mentioned by Charania and have been regularly brought up in Giannis discussions as well. There are varying degreees of threat with the two of them, but those are the scenarios best kept in fantasy trades.
If the Lakers' Plan A is to have Antetokounmpo in their building by the end of the offseason, which may not actually be the case, then Plan B should want to see him stay as far away as possible. Leave any potential playoff meeting with Giannis for no earlier than an NBA Finals matchup.