The Los Angeles Lakers are prioritizing their search for the perfect lob partner for Luka Dončić this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s salary cap expert, Eric Pincus, identified Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo as a potential top trade target for the Lakers.
“The Lakers already landed a dream target in Luka Dončić, but the franchise is greedy. If Antetokounmpo demands out, a combination of salaries, talent, and picks could get him to Los Angeles. It’s a stretch, but it’d be remiss to leave him out if this is a team’s wish list,” Pincus wrote.
If Antetokounmpo becomes available, the Lakers will need to be creative due to their limited draft capital. However, after pulling off the shocking Dončić trade, it’s hard to count out Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office.
Other Trade Options for the Lakers
According to Pincus, the Lakers’ primary trade assets include Dalton Knecht, Maxi Kleber, Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent, Jared Vanderbilt, and Shake Milton.
If they decide to pursue Antetokounmpo, they might consider flipping Reaves for additional draft capital to offer Milwaukee, especially if the Bucks decide to rebuild.
“Otherwise, LA is less likely to send out key players like Reaves, Hachimura, etc. Instead, look for the franchise to target a center with Knecht as bait—similar to the failed Mark Williams deal with the Charlotte Hornets (the Lakers didn’t clear Williams’ physical),” Pincus wrote.
If Antetokounmpo is unavailable, Pincus suggested Utah’s Walker Kessler and Dončić’s former Mavericks teammate, Daniel Gafford, as alternative targets.
Giannis’ Reaction to the Luka Trade
Antetokounmpo initially thought the Dončić trade was fake news. But after processing it, he came to a realization about the business side of basketball.
“And at the same time, I understand the business of basketball, that sometimes teams need to make the best moves that are good for their organization and for their position and for their own pursuit of greatness and championships,” Antetokounmpo told reporters after what was considered one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. “But at the same time, it goes both ways. You cannot have a double standard here. When the teams make the best moves for them and they believe they can get another player to win now.
“When a player believes that he can go to a different team, and he believes that he can have the chance to win a championship, we cannot crucify the person and say that he’s not loyal and he didn’t do the right thing and he let everybody down because the history has showed you that you have to do what’s best for you and your family and you have to do what’s best, what’s most important to win.”
Despite a rough 2-8 start to the season, the Bucks have turned things around, with Antetokounmpo leading them to a solid playoff position. The 30-year-old Greek star is putting up MVP-caliber numbers, averaging 30.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.2 blocks. Heading into Saturday’s games, the Bucks, with a 37-28 record, are tied with the Indiana Pacers for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.
