The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason may begin sooner than expected.
A victory on Wednesday will help the Lake Show inch closer to tying the series at three.
Still, the franchise’s inability to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road this postseason makes it difficult to remain optimistic about its chances of advancing to the second round.
The Lakers could improve their championship odds this summer by completing a blockbuster trade for an electric Eastern Conference All-Star.
“Giannis (Antetokounmpo) is set to make $54.1 million next season, and the Lakers are just $4.3 million under the first tax apron without a full roster,” Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts wrote Tuesday.
“LA does not want to send out more than they get back to prevent from being hard-capped at the first apron. This deal likely involves a third team, but the Lakers would effectively part with following to get Giannis.”
“The Lakers have whoever they select with their 2025 2nd-round draft pick to add to this package. It is light on draft capital for the Bucks, who don’t own for their draft selections until 2031.”
“Because of that, Milwaukee may try to contend without Giannis. Austin Reaves would be a borderline All-Star in the East with four solid role players joining him from LA.”
“Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Dalton Knecht, and Maxi Kleber could all be pieces that help the Bucks reach the postseason in 2026.”
Watts’ trade proposal would send Reaves, Hachimura, Vincent, Knecht, Kleber, a 2031 first-round pick, and four first-round swaps to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo shouldn’t be a Buck once the 2025-26 season commences.
The nine-time All-Star’s tenure with Milwaukee will always be highlighted by his successful 2021 playoff run with the organization that ended with a championship.
However, things have gotten stale since then, which should lead to a blockbuster offseason trade involving the 6-foot-11 athletic freak.
Reaves has been solid in the postseason thus far, but his subpar on-ball defense, slow offensive starts, and unaggressive nature in pivotal moments would give the Lakers valid reasons to move on from him in free agency.
Antetokounmpo’s brute strength and fluid athleticism, LeBron James’ remarkable IQ and body control at high speeds, and Luka Doncic’s earth-shattering playmaking from the most essential position in basketball (point guard) would make it challenging for opposing teams to defend nightly.
Antetokounmpo, who averaged 33.0 points and 15.4 rebounds during the playoffs, could spend the next leg of his career with the Lakers.
