Report: Lakers 'pursued' Giannis Antetokounmpo at NBA trade deadline
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Lakers pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo at February's NBA trade deadline.
Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have been eliminated from the playoffs, the waiting has officially begun as far as what type of offseason moves they will make. Significant, if not big, changes could be in store for them after they were swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday. LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes are about to become free agents, Austin Reaves is expected to opt out of his contract, and Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton can also opt out and hit the open market.
In addition, there remains the big elephant in the room that has been speculated about for months — the possibility that the Lakers will make a big push for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo has apparently wanted out for a while, and an ESPN report by Shams Charania indicated that the Bucks "are open for business" as far as trade offers for the two-time MVP. According to that same report, the Lakers were one team that tried to acquire Antetokounmpo prior to this season's trade deadline.
"Sources said postseason teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, [New York] Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers pursued Antetokounmpo at the February deadline, and their finishes to the campaign will play a major factor in their aggressiveness to trade for him," Charania wrote. However, Antetokounmpo will reportedly have plenty of say in where he goes, and he hasn't given any indication that the Lakers are one team he's open to playing for. "Rival executives believe that Antetokounmpo's desired teams will be the largest factor in his trade destination.
He is essentially on an expiring contract, with next season guaranteed in his deal before a player option in 2027, providing him leverage to navigate to a specific team based on whether he would agree to stay long term given the players and picks needed to acquire him. " Antetokounmpo, who will turn 32 years of age on Dec. 6, averaged 27.