The Lakers are ready to empty the tank. So long as they can land Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks.
ESPN insider Shams Charania revealed on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Thursday what the Lakers would need to give up to land Antetokounmpo.
“The Lakers expressed interest in Giannis at the deadline,” Charania said. “Right now what they’ll be able to offer is three first-round picks in cap space and essentially absorb Giannis’ contract.”
If the Lakers can pull off the trade for Antetokounmpo, they would give up the No. 25 pick in this year’s draft and two unprotected future first-round picks. By doing this, they would create cap flexibility and would be able to absorb Antetokounmpo’s salary.
Antetokounmpo, 31, has two years left on his deal with a player option following the 2026-27 season. He will make $58.5 million this season and $62.3 million the following year.
Even with potentially adding Antetokounmpo, Charania said the Lakers want to bring back LeBron James, who is mulling retirement.
Charania also said Antetokounmpo and James’ cap situations would theoretically overlap, so the Lakers would need to figure something out if they wanted to team Antetokounmpo with James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
But while the Lakers have been dreaming of a star-studded cast like this, they will also need to convince Antetokounmpo to play in Los Angeles. In the past, he has said LA is “superficial.”
Charania also noted Milwaukee could get better trade offers from other teams.
“I do think when you look at the best of the options that Milwaukee could get, I think there’s other avenues potentially there,” Charania said. “But certainly, if in the world that he would end up there, their worlds would be intertwined in a way.”