The Los Angeles Lakers are known for having superstars across their illustrious NBA history, and this summer the team is expected to once again go out and trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo in hopes of pairing him with Luka Doncic for the future.
It’s fair to say Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks has been up in the air for a while, but now his time with the team may have reached a tipping point. Based on the latest report from Sam Amick of The Athletic, a “divorce” between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks looks more likely than ever.
Amick has also previously reported that the Lakers are expected to make an “all-out pursuit” for an Antetokounmpo trade this summer. While that would only happen if the Greek star asked out, what was previously just a possibility now feels inevitable.
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Latest Giannis Antetokounmpo ‘Divorce’ News With Bucks
There’s a lot going on between Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee right now. For starters, he hyperextended his knee last week, and it was reported by Shams Charania that while the star wants to play, the team wants to keep him out. It only adds another chapter to what now feels like a growing problem between him and the Bucks.
Charania broke the latest development on March 18, writing: “Just in on NBA Today — the Bucks and Giannis are in disagreement about his future, again.”
Then, head coach Doc Rivers, after the NBPA called out the team for not playing Antetokounmpo when he’s healthy, told reporters straight-up that the superstar isn’t healthy and that Milwaukee has no reason to play him right now.
“He’s progressing,” Rivers said on Wednesday. “He’s just not healthy.”
Most recently, Amick reported that the most likely future between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks is a “divorce.” That possibility had quieted after he wasn’t traded at the deadline, but the injury drama has only ramped it back up.
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“The team’s current stance — that he won’t be medically cleared to play despite the strong indications that he believes he’s good to go — is the clearest sign yet that these two parties are headed for a divorce in the summer,” Amick wrote.
NBA Base echoed the report on March 26: “The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo are reportedly headed for a ‘divorce’ this summer, per @sam_amick.”
Amick continued: “And whether the Bucks are trying to preserve his health for an eventual trade, improve their draft position, or both, the fact that this approach is directly at odds with Antetokounmpo’s desires speaks volumes about the state of affairs in this relationship.”
Lakers Only Stand To Benefit From Giannis ‘Divorce’ News For Potential Trade Rumors
While the Antetokounmpo drama with the Bucks isn’t a good sign for his future with the team — especially given all he’s done for the franchise — the Lakers stand to benefit from his apparent growing frustration.
Amick reported around the trade deadline that Los Angeles will make an all-out pursuit for the 2021 Finals MVP. While they weren’t one of the four teams mentioned in the hunt for him at the deadline, with at least $55 million in expected salary cap space this summer, they’ll be well positioned to offer Milwaukee a lot back for Antetokounmpo.
“The Lakers, for example, who are known to be planning an all-out pursuit of the Bucks’ big man in the summer,” Amick wrote. “Even if they ultimately fall short of landing him, that sort of well-publicized pressure typically signals to other suitors that they’d better be prepared to come with serious offers.”
Additionally, while the Lakers have eyes for several top trade and free agent targets this summer as well, Antetokounmpo remains the “big prize” according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“The Lakers, team sources told ESPN, obviously see the appeal in Antetokounmpo and believe they would be one of the teams on a very short list if the Bucks star asks for a trade out of Milwaukee,” McMenamin wrote. “A Western Conference executive told ESPN he believes Antetokounmpo is the ‘big prize’ the Lakers hope to land, should the Milwaukee Bucks decide to trade the 2021 NBA Finals MVP in the offseason.”
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The Lakers reportedly believe they have a good shot at Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, per McMenamin.
Though it might be sad to see the Greek Freak’s future coming to an end in Milwaukee, especially with how everything is going down over the past few months, it only means good news for a team like the Lakers with cap space and assets as they look to build for the future alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, LeBron James and the rest of the young core.
Lakers trade rumors for Antetokounmpo will continue into the offseason, and while he will carry a massive price tag, expect them to lead the race to land the superstar.