The Los Angeles Lakers are one game away from the end of their playoff run and potentially the end of the LeBron James era.
James’ $52.6 million contract comes off the books this summer, and the Lakers are almost certain to use at least $40 million of it to pay Austin Reaves on a deal that could stretch as high as $241 million across five years (approximately $48 million annually).
One intriguing option for L.A. after doing so is to then shop Reaves and its haul of first-round draft assets to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who Milwaukee is actively trying to move this summer.
“There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo’s services, and ownership and front office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said,” ESPN’s Shams Charania wrote Monday, May 11 while reporting that the Bucks are “open for business” with regards to the two-time MVP big man.
Lakers Can Compete in Elite Western Conference Behind Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo Pairing
GettyGiannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Antetokounmpo, a 10-time All-Star who will play his 14th NBA season next year at age 32, is an ideal running mate for Luka Doncic. Doncic is under contract in L.A. for the next three seasons, which includes a $57.4 million player option in 2028-29, when he will play at age 29.
Los Angeles intends to build around Doncic for the longterm, and Antetokounmpo is the type of dynamic offensive big and imposing defensive presence that can supercharge Doncic by highlighting his skill set as a playmaker on one end of the court while compensating for his biggest weakness (his on-ball defense) on the other.
Antetokounmpo is under contract for two more seasons, including a player option in 2027-28, at the annual figures of $58.5 million and $62.8 million, respectively. His contract alongside Doncic’s would take up a massive amount of the league’s projected $165 million salary cap next season. However, it would also pair two of perhaps the best five or six players in the league on one team.
The Lakers are likely to need that kind of firepower to viably compete with the likes of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who are on the precipice of sweeping Los Angeles out of the playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on Monday night, as well as the Victor Wembanyama-led San Antonio Spurs moving forward.
Austin Reaves, 3 First-Round Picks Should Place Lakers at Top End of Trade Offers
GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The hypothetical blockbuster trade could work out well for Reaves also, as the Lakers would be incentivized to pay him closer to the max so as to get the money closer to a match in a deal for Antetokounmpo.
For instance, if Los Angeles extends Reaves on a five-year deal worth $45 million annually, then the Lakers only need to package another $13-plus million in salary with Reaves to make the money work under league rules.
The Bucks would get a blue-chip piece, as Reaves just averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds during his age-27 campaign and was on an All-Star trajectory before suffering an injury during the first half of the campaign. Los Angeles could package another single player, or perhaps two players, the Bucks like to fill in the personnel side.
The other half of the deal would surely see the Lakers forfeit most of their available first-round draft capital, including their three tradable first-round picks in 2026, 2031 and 2033. Los Angeles can also deal first-round swaps in 2028, 2030 and 2032.
Los Angeles picks at No. 25 in the upcoming draft, but the value of the 2031 and 2033 selections, as well as the 2030 and 2032 swaps, is potentially high given that Antetokounmpo has a meaningful injury history over the past few seasons and will play in 2030 at age 35.
Charania noted the Lakers were among a handful of franchises that made serious inquiries into Antetokounmpo’s availability ahead of last season’s deadline, which renders them viable candidates again this summer — particularly with the competitive trade package they can offer.
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