The Los Angeles Lakers already pulled off one of the biggest heists in NBA history by landing Luka Doncic in exchange for Anthony Davis before the trade deadline. Now, Rob Pelinka might be brilliant enough to do it again.
After a first-round flameout against the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, the pressure in L.A. is cranked to maximum because their roster might not have been championship material. LeBron James isn’t getting any younger, Luka is entering his prime, and the window to build an untouchable superteam is right now.
Meanwhile, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future in Milwaukee has never looked more uncertain. The Bucks suffered a humiliating first-round exit at the hands of the Indiana Pacers, and league sources confirm Giannis has already started serious talks with management about where this team is headed.
At 30, with another All-NBA season under his belt, Giannis is watching Milwaukee’s title window slam shut while teams like Boston, Indiana, and Cleveland surge ahead. And according to insiders, if Giannis forces his way out, Los Angeles is reportedly at the top of his wish list.
For the Lakers, the mission is clear: build the NBA’s next unstoppable Big Three without breaking up their current core of LeBron and Luka.
The pieces are there, the urgency is real, and Pelinka has shown he’s not afraid to swing for the fences. Let’s put together a trade package that sends Giannis to LA and examine how it would affect all parties involved.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Milwaukee Bucks Receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, 2031 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick Swap
Los Angeles Lakers Create Greatest Big Three Ever
If this deal goes down, the Lakers would have the greatest Big Three the NBA has ever seen. LeBron James, even at 40, is still an elite floor general who just averaged 24.4 points and 8.2 assists this season.
Luka Doncic, fresh off a monster 2024-25 campaign where he posted 28.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, is the engine of this team’s offense for the next decade. Add Giannis Antetokounmpo, still the most dominant two-way force in basketball with 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, and you’re talking about three generational talents with zero defensive weak links and unmatched playoff pedigree.
The fit is mouthwatering. Luka can run point, LeBron can pick his spots as a secondary creator, and Giannis can terrorize defenses as the ultimate rim-runner and defensive anchor. For the first time in his career, Giannis wouldn’t have to carry the full scoring load every night. He can focus on being an elite finisher, defender, and transition monster while Luka and LeBron create offense.
And let’s be real: no defense in the league can handle a spread floor with Luka’s stepbacks, LeBron’s drives, and Giannis crashing the paint like a freight train.
For the Lakers, this is an all-time flex from Rob Pelinka. After pulling off the shocker of last summer with the Luka deal, landing Giannis would make back-to-back offseasons of pure front office dominance.
It would instantly make L.A. the championship favorite for 2026 and create a level of star power we haven’t seen since the Heatles or Warriors superteam days, except, on paper, even scarier. This is how you maximize LeBron’s final seasons and secure the franchise’s post-LeBron future at the same time.
Milwaukee Bucks Rebuild Around Budding, Young Stars
For the Bucks, this deal is about hitting the reset button without crashing the entire system. Losing Giannis would be the end of an era, but Austin Reaves gives Milwaukee a budding star to headline the next chapter.
At 26, Reaves just averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 assists per game in L.A., showing he can thrive as a primary creator when given the keys. His gritty, no-fear style would fit right in with Milwaukee’s blue-collar identity, and he’s under contract on a team-friendly deal ($13,937,574 in 2025-26) that gives the Bucks flexibility moving forward.
Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt add critical pieces to the rebuild. Hachimura, a 6’8″ forward with a smooth midrange game and 41.3% shooting from three this season, could finally blossom into a 20-point scorer with a larger role in Milwaukee.
Vanderbilt, one of the league’s best defensive role players when healthy, gives the Bucks a versatile stopper who can guard wings and small-ball bigs, exactly the kind of player who becomes invaluable in the playoffs. And Dalton Knecht, the rookie sniper from Tennessee, adds pure shooting upside (9.1 PPG on 37.6% 3-PT FG) and youthful energy to an aging roster.
But the crown jewel here is the draft capital. The 2026 pick swap gives Milwaukee a shot at a premium pick if the Lakers stumble post-LeBron, and the unprotected 2031 first-rounder could be a franchise-changer once L.A.’s current core ages out.
It’s not a typical star-for-star deal, but it’s the kind of package that sets up Milwaukee to get younger, deeper, and more flexible while staying competitive in the East. For a small-market team facing an unavoidable Giannis exit, this is about as strong a starting point as you could hope for.
Is This Lakers Offer Enough To Acquire Giannis In All-In Trade Scenario?
On paper, this is a solid offer. The Lakers are giving up four rotation players, including a rising star in Reaves, plus future picks that could become valuable down the road. But is it enough to land a two-time MVP still in his prime?
That’s where things get tricky. Milwaukee would have to be fully convinced that Giannis is ready to leave and that no other team, say, a team like the Thunder with a mountain of picks, is willing to blow them away with a bigger offer.
From the Bucks’ perspective, this package brings a balance of present-day talent and future flexibility. But there’s no blue-chip, All-NBA-level star coming back in this deal. If Milwaukee’s front office is determined to stay relevant and avoid a total teardown, this offer could appeal: Reaves, Rui, Vanderbilt, and Knecht would instantly plug in around Damian Lillard (when he returns from major injury) and keep the Bucks competitive.
But if they’re aiming for a full-scale rebuild with maximum draft assets, they might want more picks and a younger centerpiece.
Ultimately, this offer puts pressure on Giannis himself. If he makes it clear that L.A. is his preferred destination and he won’t sign long-term anywhere else, then the Bucks’ leverage drops, and the Lakers’ package starts to look more than reasonable.
In that case, yes, this could absolutely be enough to pull off the trade of the decade. But make no mistake: L.A. would be pushing all their chips in, gutting their depth to create the ultimate Big Three.
