New Giannis Trade Rumors on Lakers as 'Viable Threat' in Offseason, Warriors Pursuit and More

The Los Angeles Lakers may not be in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the NBA trade deadline, but they reportedly could be a potential candidate to land him this offseason, if the Milwaukee Bucks choose to delay a trade until after the season.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers "don't have enough tradeable assets to join the in-season bidders" for Antetokounmpo, but would "become a very viable threat to land" the two-time MVP this offseason if he's still on the trade block.

The Lakers gameplan for landing Antetokounmpo, according to Stein, is to "stay patient and avoid deals that involve any long-term salary to maintain maximum flexibility for the spring."

Los Angeles is expected to have the salary cap space available to pick up a big contract like Antetokounmpo's without having to part ways with stars Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, but it would have to count on him not being traded before Thursday's deadline.

But the Bucks should have plenty of suitors for Antetokounmpo in the coming days if they want to go ahead and move him. One such team appears to be the Golden State Warriors.

According to Stein, the Warriors have "made Draymond Green part of their pitch to Milwaukee in presumed combination with Jonathan Kuminga, Milwaukee native Brandin Podziemski and draft capital."

The hiccup in that deal is that the Bucks "have shown a reluctance to take Green's contract back" and would instead want him sent to a third team. Green is owed $25.8 million this season and has a $27.6 million player option for the 2026-27 campaign.

Stein added that Antetokounmpo has "an affinity" for the Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves, but the extent of their respective pitches to Milwaukee is unclear.

There is still a scenario in which Milwaukee keeps Antetokounmpo past the trade deadline and doesn't trade him this offseason. Stein noted that the Bucks believe their draft lottery position could help entice their star not to want out this summer.