Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on November 15, 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers will all but guarantee themselves Banner No.18 if they can pair generational stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic.
Their chances of toppling the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, will only heighten if they can hold onto Austin Rivers. However, it’s simply not practical for the Lakers to retain their second-leading scorer in a potential Antetokounmpo trade.
Hoops Hollow’s Ryan Lucas proposed a three-team Lakers trade idea that would send LeBron James to the Golden State Warriors and Reaves to the Bucks.
Proposed trade details:
Bucks would receive:
Jonathan Kuminga
Austin Reaves
Brandin Podziemski
Moses Moody
Dalton Knecht
2026 LAL 1st Round Pick Swap
2028 LAL 1st Round Pick Swap
2030 LAL 1st Round Pick (Unprotected)
2031 LAL 1st Round Pick Swap
2032 LAL 1st Round Pick Swap
Warriors would receive:
Lebron James
2032 LAL 2nd Round Pick
Lakers would receive:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Buddy Hield
Al Horford
Unrealistic Lakers Trade Option
While not practical, Lucas floated another trade idea that would see the Lakers retain both Reaves and James. In this scenario, the Bucks would be getting back a minimal haul for a two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer.
Bucks would receive:
Rui Hachimura ($18M expiring)
Maxi Kleber ($11M expiring)
Gabe Vincent ($11.5M expiring)
Jarred Vanderbilt ($11.5M)
Dalton Knecht ($4M)
Adou Thiero ($1.2M)
LAL 1st round pick swaps : 2026, 2028, 2030, 2032 (4)
LAL 1st round pick : 2031 (1)
LAL 2nd round pick : 2032 (1)
Lakers would receive:
Giannis Antetokounmpo ($54.1M)
Andre Jackson Jr. ($2.2M)
Thanasis Antetokounmpo ($2.2M min/expiring)
Amir Coffey ($2.2M min/expiring)
Cole Anthony ($2.2$M min/expiring)
Lucas stressed that the proposed Lakers trade would be legal under the new CBA.
“Yes this trade is financially doable and CBA compliant after 12/15 to my understanding,” he wrote on X. “Milwaukee would need to waive a player and LA would need to convert a two way to a standard contract.”
Giannis Sparks Lakers Rumors
The first option would lead to a potential starting five of Marcus Smart, Luka Doncic, Rui Hachimura, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Deandre Aayton — which could be formidable defensively but likely limited offensively due to poor spacing.
The second option would obviously be unfair and simply not doable.
Antetokounmpo sparked chatter of a potential trade to the Lakers on Tuesday by wiping off all his Bucks-related content on social media, while retaining only one post — a tribute to Lakers icon Kobe Bryant shared on August 23, 2021.
With the Bucks off to a 9-13 start, there is increasing belief that Antetokounmpo could seek a trade at the end of the 2025-26 season. On Media Day, the “Greek Freak” made it clear that he is locked in at least until the end of the season.
“I’m locked into whatever I have I front of me,” the 2021 NBA Finals MVP said in October.
“Now if in six, seven months I change my mind, that’s human, too. You’re allowed to make any decision you want. But I’m locked in. I’m locked into this team. I’m locked into these guys, this group, and to my coaching staff and to myself.”
The Lakers reportedly have plans to create ample cap space in 2027, when both Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic could become free agents.
Sai Mohan covers the NBA for Heavy.com. Based in Portugal, Sai is a seasoned sports writer with nearly two decades of publishing experience, including bylines at Yardbarker, FanSided’s Hoops Habit, International Business Times, Hindustan Times and more. More about Sai Mohan
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