NBA Fans Scoff at Latest Lakers Trade Rumors on Giannis Antetokounmpo Package: “Is Nico running the Bucks?”
Nov 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) defends Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the first quarter at Fiserv Forum. © Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images TThe latest Lakers trade rumors suggest they are willing to offload all their tradeable first-round picks and swaps for Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Lakers could include the 2026 first-round pick (No.
25), the 2031 first-round pick, the 2033 first-round pick and the 2028, 2030 and 2032 pick swaps. Charania said the Lakers also have cap flexibility to absorb Antetokounmpo’s contract. On the surface level, a package with three first-round picks can seem appealing.
However, in such scenarios, the value of those picks matters. In the Lakers’ case, they won’t be flirting with the lottery any time soon if Luka Doncic and Antetokounmpo team up. The picks in 2031 and 2033 won’t be valuable.
The 25th pick in this year’s draft sums up the Lakers’ likely draft selections in 2031 and 2033. Meanwhile, the swaps won’t mean much, either, as Milwaukee will likely have the better picks in 2028, 2030 and 2032. The cap absorption factor is enticing as the Bucks won’t need to accept contracts they don’t fancy.
However, the rest of the package needs to hold enough value and even if the Lakers were to throw in player assets, their offer could fall short of other interested teams. The Lakers’ best asset is Austin Reaves, who is 27. His timeline won’t match a rebuild in Milwaukee.