NBA Insider Vindicates Lakers' Quiet Deadline With Giannis Update

Although the Los Angeles Lakers didn't make the splash move at the trade deadline that many expected, they did make a definitive decision that may shape their offseason for the better. It has not been a secret that the Lakers desperately want to pair star point guard Luka Doncic with another MVP-caliber player to keep them in contention in the inevitable post-LeBron James era and Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is at the top of their list.

On Sunday, Lakers fans received some good news regarding their chances to make a run at the former league MVP as NBA Insider Jake Fischer writes that a departure from Milwaukee is “still very possible this summer,” adding that a move to a true title contender is the “most likely endgame” for Giannis Antetokounmpo.

That alone would spark speculation favoring Los Angles. But Fischer went further, noting the Bucks were closer than ever to trading Giannis before the Feb. 5 deadline and specifically mentioning the Lakers and the Miami Heat as logical destinations. All signs that an inevitable split between the franchise icon the Bucks is around the corner and the imminent bidding war could see Giannis in a new uniform before the start of next season.

By resisting the urge to overpay in February, the Lakers now preserve their flexibility allowing them to be one of the top potential bidders in the mix. Los Angeles made a modest swap acquiring Luke Kennard from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick. Kennard’s $11 million salary comes off the books this summer. A move signaling the long-game play being set up by general manager Rob Pelinka rather than yet another short-term solution like Lakers have settled for in the past.

Because of this more patient approach, Los Angeles projects to have meaningful cap space. Potentially north of $50 million depending on how free agency unfolds.

MORE: Jonathan Kuminga Update Reveals Harsh Reality of the Porzingis Trade

LeBron James headlines five projected unrestricted free agents and has been rumored as a possible reunion candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers or even a farewell run alongside Stephen Curry with the Golden State Warriors.

Then there’s Austin Reaves, who is widely expected to decline his $14.8 million player option in pursuit of a long-term deal after putting up borderline All-Star numbers in back-to-back seasons. In short: change is coming regardless.

And that’s exactly why standing pat made sense. The Lakers couldn’t assemble a competitive Giannis package at the deadline. This summer, they can include additional draft capital including 2026, 2031 and 2033 first-rounders while maintaining the cap room necessary to build around Luka Doncic.

MORE: ESPN Analyst Shares Harsh Reality of NBA’s Post-LeBron Future

As far as the basketball fit between Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, it's one of the cleanest potential one-two punches in the league. Two players each capable of averaging 30+ points per game each with contrasting skills that compliment one another. Doncic as a pick and roll operator alongside Giannis who thrives as a finisher around the rim. It all works.

The real challenge for the Lakers isn’t fit, it’s leverage. The Bucks will demand premium assets for a generational superstar. Whether a package centered around a sign-and-trade headlined by Reaves and future picks beats out other suitors remains unclear. But here’s the key: the Lakers gave themselves a seat at the table.

Although the Lakers sit firmly in the Western Conference playoff picture with the chance to make a championship run this season, the organization's most defining stretch comes not in April and May. But instead in June and July as they have major decisions to make that will have a long-term ripple effect on the retooling efforts of the storied franchise.