The Los Angeles Lakers have long been rumored in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes, but their chances of landing him got worse after the Spurs destroyed the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night. Minnesota had made back-to-back trips to the conference finals before falling in the second round this year. The Wolves are upset and will be eager to shake up their roster. They’d love to add a star, and Giannis is the marquee name on the trade block.
Minnesota defeated the Lakers in the opening round of the playoffs last year. If Antetokounmpo wants to win a championship, he may feel the Timberwolves give him a better shot than Los Angeles. He wouldn’t be playing for the iconic purple and gold, but fans have to remember that Giannis loved playing for Milwaukee.
The Greek Freak will have a say over where he ends up. He can be a free agent in the 2027 offseason. Every team will want a long-term commitment before acquiring him. If Giannis isn’t willing to give one, the price will drop. With the player pulling the strings, anything is possible.
Timberwolves playoff disappointment adds serious rival to Giannis chase
The Bucks want to trade Giannis before the draft. It will give them clarity as they look to retool their roster. That is just over one month away, so fans won’t have to wait long to finally see the resolution here.
The Timberwolves have chased stars in recent years, but have failed because they lack significant draft capital. Minnesota would have to trade players like Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert to contenders to get the picks Milwaukee wants for Giannis.
Minnesota fell short and plans on making changes around Anthony Edwards. Lakers fans can bank on that. If Los Angeles decides to chase a star, the Wolves will be in the way. It may not just be Giannis on the market. Kawhi Leonard and others could hit the block as teams look to shake things up.
The Thunder and Spurs are going to be elite for years to come. The Lakers want to win a championship with Luka Doncic and must upgrade their roster to have a serious shot. They aren’t winning the bidding for Giannis, but expect Los Angeles to find a center upgrade, add shooting, and improve their defense.
Fans saw what Doncic can do with shooting and defense around him as he lifted the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals. The Lakers took notes and hope to build a similar squad around their superstar. Giannis doesn’t quite fit that mold, but it is impossible to turn down a top-five player in the world if he wants to join your team.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ long odds of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo got even worse after the Timberwolves were destroyed by the Spurs on Friday night. Minnesota will be all-in on adding a superstar next to Anthony Edwards, and the Greek Freak is the best player available.
The Lakers are searching for role players who fit more than a star, but crazier things have happened. LA did end up with Luka out of nowhere. Stay tuned to see how all this plays out.
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