NBA Rumors: The Lakers Position Themselves to Sign Giannis Antetokounmpo
The Los Angeles team has already started to be rumored to sign the Greek: it would be next summer and not before the trade deadline
NBA Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers emerge as a very serious option to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo in case the Milwaukee Bucks decide to postpone any trade until this upcoming summer. According to sources cited by Marc Stein in The Stein Line, the Los Angeles franchise is considered a "very viable threat" to enter fully into the bidding for the Greek player, who will turn 31 years old during the next season.
The key for the Lakers would lie in the projected salary cap space for the offseason, a factor that would facilitate a major operation for Antetokounmpo. In this context, it has also been reported that LeBron James, whose contract is expiring and is valued at 52.6 million dollars, will remain with the team at least until the trade deadline.
On the Milwaukee side, one of the alternatives being considered is to delay any decision regarding Antetokounmpo's future until the summer. The idea would be to try to secure a high draft pick and then use it as an asset in a trade for a star who can complement the Greek and strengthen the competitive project of the Bucks.
The draft, key for the Bucks
However, the draft situation adds complexity to the franchise's strategy. Milwaukee does not control its 2026 first-round pick, as the Atlanta Hawks will receive the more favorable selection between the Bucks' pick and the one from the New Orleans Pelicans. This constraint limits the organization's room for maneuver when planning for the medium term and increases uncertainty about the path the team will take around its top star.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rumores NBA: Los Lakers se posicionan para fichar a Giannis Antetokounmpo
