The Luka Doncic era is officially underway within the Los Angeles Lakers organization. Rob Pelinka spent this summer building out a supporting cast that suits the superstar’s skill set.
Of course, LeBron James is still on the Lakers roster. He opted into his $52.6 million player option earlier this summer. However, if Pelinka and James agree that his tenure in Purple and Gold has run its course, the Lakers could begin searching for potential solutions to help LeBron land on his team of choice.
Matt Moore of FanSided recently proposed a trade that would not only help LeBron but also position the Lakers as a juggernaut for years to come. The proposed trade looks like this:
Los Angeles Lakers Get:
Milwaukee Bucks Get:
- LeBron James
- Austin Reaves
- two unprotected first-round picks
“Let’s talk about the Bucks’ side first. LeBron is not staying in Milwaukee, obviously. A buyout is agreed upon for $1, a symbolic gesture. LeBron can then sign with the Cavaliers, Knicks, Rockets, Warriors, whatever he wants,” Moore wrote. “…LeBron was clearly unhappy with how the Lakers basically put him to pasture this summer and moved on from him. That’s evident from all sorts of angles. This allows him to be traded for a player of his caliber, finish his career where he wants, and set up the Lakers for the future, keeping his legacy with LA intact.”
On paper, this move would suit everyone involved. The Milwaukee Bucks have a path to clearing their cap sheet by buying out LeBron and trading Austin Reaves or letting him walk in free agency. And, the Lakers get a superstar duo to spearhead multiple championship pushes in the coming years.
The Lakers Would Have a New Star Duo
Giannis and Doncic would instantly form a fearsome partnership. They would be the latest duo to don a Lakers jersey together and cement the franchise as the home of the superstar. A star tandem has anchored the Lakers throughout the franchise’s history.. Giannis and Doncic would slot into history along with the likes of Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Wilt Chamberlain, and Jerry West.
You can’t put a price on what a duo like that would do for the franchise, both in terms of on-court success and off-court marketability. Furthermore, having two of the top three European talents in the world leading the roster would certainly increase the Lakers‘ reach outside the United States, especially in attracting new fans.
The hard part, of course, would be selling Milwaukee on the idea that clearing their cap sheet is the quickest route back to contention.
A Giannis Trade Is Unlikely
Unfortunately for the Lakers, the chance of landing Giannis is slim. According to an Oct. 7 report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the superstar forward recently pinpointed the New York Knicks as his preferred destination, should a trade ever materialize.
“Ever since the NBA Draft Combine in mid-May, Alex Saratsis — an Octagon managing director and Antetokounmpo’s U.S.-based representative — has fielded rampant interest in Antetokounmpo and conducted serious due diligence on the best possible outside fits,” Charania reported. “Several teams were discussed internally, but one emerged as the only place Antetokounmpo wanted to play outside of Milwaukee: the New York Knicks.”
However, you can never ignore the pulling power of playing in Los Angeles, especially when it means teaming up with Doncic. The Lakers would be better served by building a deep supporting cast to maximize Doncic’s skill set. As things stand, a move for Giannis may be nothing more than a pipe dream.
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