The Los Angeles Lakers’ dream of pairing Giannis Antetokounmpo with Luka Dončić may not be dead after all.
The possibility regained life after the Milwaukee Bucks superstar addressed the swirling trade rumors linking him to the New York Knicks, leaving just enough ambiguity to keep other contenders — including the Lakers — watching closely.
Giannis Addresses Trade Rumors
On Tuesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Knicks and Bucks engaged in an “exclusive” round of trade talks in August after Antetokounmpo identified New York as his preferred destination outside Milwaukee. Those conversations, however, never advanced beyond the exploratory stage.
“First of all, I haven’t read that story,” Antetokounmpo said following Wednesday’s practice. “When the season starts, I try to get off social media and focus on my craft and the team. But yeah, I’ve said this many times: I want to be in a situation where I can win — and right now, I’m here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go. It’s definitely going to be hard, but I’m here. So all the other extra stuff does not matter.”
While reaffirming his commitment to the Bucks for now, Antetokounmpo notably stopped short of making a long-term pledge to Milwaukee — leaving the door open to reevaluate his future later in the season.
“I think I’ve communicated with my teammates and the people I respect that the moment I step on this court or in this facility, the rest does not matter,” he said. “I’m locked into whatever I have in front of me. Now, if in six, seven months I change my mind, I think that’s human too. You’re allowed to make any decision you want. But I’m locked in — to this team, to these guys, to this coaching staff, and to myself.”
Knicks’ Window Closes, Market Reopens
For much of the offseason, the Knicks appeared to be Antetokounmpo’s preferred destination outside Milwaukee. Charania reported that his agent, Alex Saratsis of Octagon, conducted extensive due diligence across the league before New York emerged as the only team Giannis expressed genuine interest in joining.
“The Bucks insisted to the Knicks that they preferred not to move Antetokounmpo,” Charania wrote. “Milwaukee believes New York did not make a strong enough offer to continue even discussing a trade.”
That dynamic, however, has shifted.
Charania revealed on ESPN’s NBA Today that the Knicks’ “exclusive negotiating window” has officially closed, potentially opening the door for other franchises to re-enter the picture — including the Lakers.
“That window is obviously shut,” Charania said. “We’re not in August anymore — we’re now in October. If things reopen during the season with this whole Giannis Antetokounmpo element, that window is no longer exclusive to the Knicks. Other NBA teams will enter the picture. I expect it to go beyond just New York.”
Lakers Maintain Flexibility
The Lakers’ long-term vision has shifted dramatically this offseason, with Dončić now the face of the franchise and LeBron James entering the final year of his contract at age 40.
After signing Dončić to a three-year, $165 million extension, the Lakers made it clear they were balancing short-term contention with long-term flexibility — the kind of cap maneuvering that could make a blockbuster move for Antetokounmpo possible.
“We’ve been very intentional with keeping our optionality to make win-now moves if there are good ones to make or to preserve our flexibility in the future,” team president Rob Pelinka said in July. “We want to make smart moves, but being in a position of flexibility versus being stuck is really promising for how we’re going to build this team moving forward.”
The Lakers’ strategy has centered on building around Dončić’s prime years while maintaining tradeable assets — keeping their lone future first-round pick (2031 or 2032) capital while they can add more in the offseason — to pursue another superstar if one becomes available.
A Familiar Waiting Game
For now, Antetokounmpo insists he’s committed to Milwaukee, but his carefully worded remarks have reignited speculation around the league.
Five decades ago, the Lakers outbid the Knicks to land another generational Milwaukee star, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who also preferred New York before ultimately being traded to Los Angeles in 1975.
Will history repeat itself?
If the Bucks stumble early or fall short of expectations again, the Lakers — armed with cap flexibility, global appeal, and a superstar foundation led by Dončić — could once again find themselves in position to lure one of the NBA’s most dominant forces.
Until then, Los Angeles will wait, watching Milwaukee’s season unfold — and waiting for an opportunity that once seemed dead to spring back to life.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Lakers Could Pull a Kareem Repeat With Giannis After Trade Remarks appeared first on Heavy Sports.