With the February 5th trade deadline approaching, league-wide speculation around Giannis Antetokounmpo has reached a boiling point.
The Milwaukee Bucks star has been sidelined by a calf injury, and while no deal is imminent, rival executives are openly discussing what it would actually take to land one of the league’s most dominant players.
For fans of the Los Angeles Lakers, those conversations come with a sobering reality check.
An anonymous NBA general manager said there’s is only one realistic pathway for Los Angeles to acquire Antetokounmpo, and it involves parting with the face of the franchise.
“You could package everything they’ve got outside of LeBron and Luka [Doncic] but you won’t get the Bucks to ‘Yes’ on a trade, even as good as [Austin] Reaves has been,” the executive said via Heavy Sports. “You’re not getting Giannis Antetokounmpo for Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura and three other mid-rotation guys plus one pick. The only way to get the assets is to send out LeBron, assuming he would waive his no-trade (clause).
“I don’t think they would do that with LeBron in midseason, and I don’t think that if Giannis gives the Bucks a list that it has L.A. on the top. But there’s no other way for Giannis to get to the Lakers that I can see unless it’s LeBron or Luka going out.”
Around the league, several teams have been mentioned more consistently as potential landing spots for Antetokounmpo, including the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Notably, the Lakers are rarely listed among the frontrunners.
From a purely basketball perspective, a pairing of Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic would instantly reshape the Western Conference and give Los Angeles a long-term championship foundation. But that upside comes at an emotional and organizational cost.
READ MORE: Cavaliers Open Door to LeBron James as Free Agency Looms