2 Big Reasons the Lakers Could Beat the Knicks in the Giannis Sweepstakes

Rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future are once again taking center stage.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the two-time MVP’s only preferred trade destination—should he ever request one—would be the New York Knicks. It’s a logical fit: a major market, a deep roster, and an aggressive front office built to win now.

But there’s another franchise that could turn that dream upside down—the Los Angeles Lakers.

Unlike most years when their name surfaces in superstar rumors for attention, this time the Lakers have two very real advantages that make them a legitimate threat in the Giannis sweepstakes.

1. Luka Dončić Is the Co-Star Giannis Has Never Had

The Lakers are already positioned with one of the few players in the NBA capable of matching Giannis’ impact—Luka Dončić. The 26-year-old is entering his prime, under contract long term, and fresh off leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals two years ago.

Dončić starts the 2025–26 season with +380 MVP odds, per FanDuel, trailing only Nikola Jokić (+350) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+150). Giannis, now past 30, sits tied for fourth at +1200 alongside Victor Wembanyama.

The two are both generational talents, but Dončić is entering the peak of his dominance while Giannis is beginning to transition out of his.

A partnership between them would balance both of their strengths—Dončić’s elite perimeter playmaking and Giannis’ inside dominance—creating one of the most dynamic duos in modern NBA history.

Luka would finally have an All-NBA defender and finisher next to him; Giannis would finally have an offensive engine who could carry him through stretches.

That’s something the Knicks simply can’t offer. Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns are stars in their own right, but neither has the transcendent, MVP-level ceiling that Dončić provides.

2. The Lakers’ 2027 Cap Space Changes Everything

The other reason the Lakers could leapfrog the Knicks comes down to long-term planning—and cap flexibility.

Los Angeles has been intentionally structuring its contracts to open nearly $100 million in cap space by 2027, the exact offseason when Antetokounmpo can become an unrestricted free agent.

If LeBron James retires by then, Luka Dončić’s $53.6 million salary will be the only significant contract on the books. Every other deal—including those of role players and veterans—expires beforehand.

That setup isn’t by accident. The Lakers are building toward a post-LeBron future where they can add a second superstar next to Dončić without gutting their roster or trading away assets.

Even if Austin Reaves re-signs on a $35–40 million deal, the organization can still clear room for a full max slot through expiring deals and rising salary cap projections.

This exact dynamic was broken down recently by CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn, who compared Giannis’ potential situation to Anthony Davis’ 2019 standoff with the Pelicans.

Quinn explained that while Davis could threaten to join the Lakers outright in 2020 due to cap space, the Knicks won’t have that luxury in 2027.

“The one major difference between Antetokounmpo now and Davis in 2019? The team for which Davis wanted to play had the cap space to sign him outright when he eventually hit free agency in 2020,” Quinn wrote. “That probably isn’t a threat the Knicks can make… Fortunately for Antetokounmpo, there is a different boogeyman available to him. The Knicks may not have max cap space in 2027 … but the Lakers do. If his goal is to win a second championship, partnering up with Luka Dončić is a sensible path to doing so.”

That quote underscores the Lakers’ advantage—not just in talent, but in leverage. If Giannis ever grows unhappy in Milwaukee, he could tell teams not to trade for him and simply wait until 2027 to join the Lakers outright.

The Bottom Line

The Knicks might have the momentum today, but the Lakers have the means and timeline to change the conversation.

With Dončić secured long term and financial freedom looming in 2027, Los Angeles can offer Giannis Antetokounmpo something New York can’t: a ready-made path to contention built around a younger superstar.

If the Greek Freak ever decides it’s time for a new chapter, the Lakers won’t just be another rumor—they’ll be the real threat.

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