The Los Angeles Lakers are officially in the offseason after being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, and in the time since, there has been a ton of reporting on the future and free agency of Austin Reaves, as well as the team’s chances of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade.
Those two topics, also the impending free agency of LeBron James, remain top of mind for the Lakers heading into the offseason, but specifically as it relates to an Antetokounmpo trade, Los Angeles appears to have one major roadblock, and that comes in the form of Doncic.
According to Dan Woike and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Doncic wants to continue his relationship playing with Reaves and doesn’t want the Lakers to use him in a trade for Antetokounmpo.
Most recently, the Slovenian star was called out for wanting the Lakers to keep the shooting guard over getting one of the best players in the NBA.
Luka Doncic Called Out For Blocking Easiest Path For Lakers’ Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade
GettyLos Angeles, CA – March 27: Lakers guard Luka Doncic, #77, reacts to a referee’s call in the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Friday, March 27, 2026. For the second time in less than a week, Luka Doncic faces a one-game suspension because of technical foul accumulation. Doncic finished with 41 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the win.(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Speaking on his podcast, The Gilbert Arenas Show, Gilbert Arenas addressed The Athletic’s reporting about Doncic wanting the Lakers to keep Reaves, and not use him in a deal for Antetokounmpo this offseason. The former NBA star agreed that Doncic should publicly say he wants to play with Reaves, but raised concerns if those are his true thoughts on how the Lakers should be building a roster going forward.
“I’m going to say the same thing also in public,” Arenas said. “Like what am I supposed to say… ‘Nah, I want Giannis (over Reaves) so we can win a championship.’ No you’re going to always like stay publicly in favor of your teammate you went to battle with. But again, do I want to keep going to war with a pistol? Maybe a little Uzi or do I want that rocket launcher that’s sitting over there? Give me the rocket launcher (in Antetokounmpo). It looks like it makes everything a little bit easier sometimes.”
Reaves is a free agent, and expected to turn down his $14.9 player option and instead sign a deal around five years, $241 million with the Lakers, as has been reported on multiple fronts over the past nine months.
With that, Reaves would be the Lakers’ best asset in an Antetokounmpo trade. Even if James resigns, it doesn’t seem like Los Angeles would include him in a trade, regardless of his relationship with Rob Pelinka and the front office. The Milwaukee Bucks want a young player back, and a sign-and-trade swapping Reaves and a few other assets for Antetokounmpo makes the most sense from a Lakers perspective.
However, according to Woike and Amick, Doncic would like to continue playing with Reaves and would rather the Lakers not use him in a trade for Antetokounmpo, a move that sparked a strong response from Arenas.
The Lakers have been one of the few teams ready to make a big trade push for Antetokounmpo, but that would almost certainly have to include Reaves in a potential deal. However, if Doncic, who looks to be the lead voice in terms of Los Angeles’ decision-making this summer, doesn’t want to move him, it looks like the Southern California team might be out of the superstar trade sweepstakes.
Lakers’ Austin Reaves Free Agency After Luka Doncic Report
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Luka Doncic #77 and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers react during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
As the insiders from The Athletic wrote, Doncic wants Los Angeles to re-sign Reaves and cement their starting backcourt for the next few years.
“Dončić has made it clear to the Lakers that he would like to continue playing with Reaves, according to league sources,” the two wrote. “Beyond their close friendship, Dončić believes in Reaves as a long-term piece next to him.”
“Multiple league sources said that belief was best illustrated when Dončić told people within the organization that he wouldn’t want Reaves included in any potential trade packages for Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dončić, those sources say, would strongly prefer a team construction that includes him and Reaves alongside whatever star the Lakers could acquire.”
Additionally, Tim McMahon of ESPN said that like Woike and Amick reported, Doncic wants a long-term partnership with Reaves.
“It’s very clear that Austin Reeves is going to be Luka’s long-term co-star unless things completely fall apart and turn the opposite direction,” McMahon said on The Hoop Collective podcast.
But overall, if Doncic wants the Lakers to prioritize Reaves’ free agency to keep him around, it all but shuts down the idea of Antetokounmpo heading to Los Angeles.
Any other trade possibility that doesn’t include several other teams and the Lakers giving up nearly all of their other assets feels impossible, so for now, Los Angeles looks to be on the outside as it relates to a deal for the Bucks’ superstar, who is now available in trade talks, according to Shams Charania.
Luka Doncic Called Out For Blocking Lakers’ Giannis Trade Path