The Los Angeles Lakers are never afraid to pull off a big trade. Rob Pelinka pulled off the most shocking trade in NBA history when he landed Luka Doncic last season. It’s clear that he is not afraid to make a big play for superstars.
The biggest superstar available on the trade market this summer is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks will be fielding calls from multiple teams about his availability. Lakers fans would love it if they could find a way to pull off a deal for the Greek Freak.
One prominent NBA analyst recently revealed the odds that it happens, and they aren’t very high.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks the ball. (Photo by Tomas Diniz Santos/Getty Images)
Lakers’ Odds to Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo Are Low
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the odds of pulling off a trade for Antetokounmpo are low for Los Angeles.
“We won’t eliminate the Lakers from an Antetokounmpo trade, but pulling off a deal would be difficult for multiple reasons. Though the Lakers have nearly $50 million in cap space to absorb most of Antetokounmpo’s salary, they lack the draft assets and young players on controllable contracts,” Marks wrote.
With no young players and no draft assets available, it would be very difficult for the Lakers to pull off a move to get Antetokounmpo. In fact, it’s highly unlikely that Los Angeles is going to be able to bring him in over the summer. They just don’t have the packages that other teams can offer.
Instead, the Lakers will likely have to pivot into free agency. They have decisions to make with both LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. Once those players have been dealt with, they can move on to see if other teams want a trade that can offer them a star player.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic dribbles the ball. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Likely Can’t Add a Star Until Next Offseason
With how poor the free agent class is this season, the Lakers likely won’t be able to add another star player until next offseason. That will give them a better chance to either sign or trade for a star who can play next to Doncic. This offseason just doesn’t have the available players.
The Lakers do have nearly $50 million in cap space to spend this season. They can use that money to improve the frontcourt, which was a sore spot for them this year. They also need more capable guards off the bench from a ball-handling standpoint.
Improving those two spots, as well as the center spot, should be considered the top two priorities for Los Angeles this season. Keeping Doncic healthy for the postseason is also something they have to figure out. Without him, they were dead on arrival once they faced the Thunder.
Bringing in a superstar talent will likely have to wait at least a year. The Lakers have to hope the gap between them and the Thunder doesn’t widen in the meantime.
Lakers’ Chances of Pulling of Huge Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo Revealed