Giannis' Fit With Luka Doncic, Lakers Questioned by NBA Exec Amid Austin Reaves Contract Rumors
At least one NBA executive isn't convinced Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a good fit alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves on the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Heavy.com's Sean Deveney.
The Lakers were one of the teams that reportedly pursued Antetokounmpo ahead of the February trade deadline, and the Milwaukee Bucks are once more listening to offers for the superstar this summer, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
One Western Conference executive told Deveney targeting Antetokounmpo, 31, wouldn't make sense on a roster led by 27-year-old Dončić and Reaves, who turns 28 later this month.
"Luka Dončić is 27, he just turned 27. Austin Reaves is 27," the executive told Deveney. "That's what they're looking for, guy in their early prime who can grow alongside those two.
"You get the sense they're tired of constantly cycling the roster and they're looking for the right role players to emphasize those guys. That's not Giannis, who is in his early 30s and just is not on that timeline."
The executive's comments come after James acted as more of a role player down the stretch for the Lakers last season in order to complement Dončić and Reaves during his team's push for the playoffs.
The Lakers currently have more than $100 million in first apron space, per Spotrac, although that's before signing some key free agents.
Los Angeles has yet to lock in another season with Reaves, who is expected to decline his $14.9 million player option for next season. Coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka expressed interest in retaining pending free agent James after their team's second-round elimination.
Even with cap space, ESPN's Bobby Marks recently noted the Lakers lack picks and young players to offer in a potential Antetokounmpo trade.
The Lakers are limited to moving their 2026, 2031 and 2033 firsts in a trade, and Dalton Knecht is their only former first-rounder still on a rookie contract, per Marks.
Marks described waiting until next season to sign Antetokounmpo as a "realistic path" to the Lakers acquiring him should the Bucks star play out his last season in Milwaukee on an expiring contract.
How the Lakers' free agency talks go with both James and potentially Reaves this offseason, as well as Pelinka's long-term outlook for the roster he wants to build around Dončić, could influence whether the Lakers ultimately target Antetokounmpo either in a trade this offseason or as a free agent in 2027.
