The Los Angeles Lakers are already among the top contenders in the Western Conference.
The Lakers have a record of 16-6 entering Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers but have lost two of their last three games to the Phoenix Suns and Boston Celtics.
Competing for a title with a ‘Big Three’ of Luka Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves is possible, but a blockbuster trade could turn Los Angeles into instant championship favorites.
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Lakers Predicted To Acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Milwaukee Bucks and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo appear headed toward a parting of ways. This is largely because the Bucks are struggling to win games with their new core around Antetokounmpo, as they have a 10-14 record.
Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey predicts the Lakers could trade for Antetokounmpo in the coming months. The proposed trade details are as follows:
Lakers receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Bucks receive: Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032, a 2031 first-round pick
For the Lakers, this is a no-brainer. Imagine how dominant a duo of Dončić and Antetokounmpo would be for years to come, along with how strong the current iteration of the team would be with James in the mix.
Antetokounmpo is having yet another MVP-caliber campaign, averaging 28.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on 63.9% shooting. Although, he recently suffered a calf strain that will sideline him between two and four weeks.
The problem is there is almost no scenario where the Bucks agree to this deal. Hachimura is a solid contributor in the final season of his three-year, $51 million contract, but the rest of the assets leave much to be desired.
“What this deal lacks in star power headed back to Milwaukee, it largely makes up for in draft capital,” Bailey argued. “No, pick swaps aren’t as valuable as unprotected firsts, but that does give the Bucks some hope. And by 2031, when Giannis is near 40, a first-rounder from the Lakers could be worth a lot.”
As much as Lakers fans may not want to hear it, there are a plethora of teams that could offer stronger returns for the 31-year-old two-time MVP. The only ways Antetokounmpo ends up in a Lakers uniform is if he forces his way there, or Austin Reaves is the centerpiece of a return.