The Los Angeles Lakers can get Giannis Antetokounmpo while still keeping Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James. The pathway remains extremely narrow, and nearly everything would need to break perfectly in the Lakers’ favor. But if Rob Pelinka is able to pull off the unlikely, then the Lakers will be one of the most formidable teams in the NBA.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha explained what would need to happen for the Lakers to be able to form a “Big Four” in LA.
Giannis Forces His Way to LA
Teams like the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers can potentially offer younger stars and more draft capital than Los Angeles can. On paper, Milwaukee would almost certainly prefer those offers over a Lakers package centered around financial flexibility and limited assets.
That changes if Giannis begins influencing the market. If he tells Milwaukee that he wants Los Angeles, or even places the Lakers on a shortlist of preferred destinations, the entire trade landscape shifts. Suddenly, the Bucks are no longer negotiating with the entire league. Instead, they are operating within a smaller pool of teams Giannis would realistically commit to long-term.
Underwhelming Trade Market
Even if Giannis showed interest in the Lakers, that wouldn’t stop Milwaukee from trying to get the best deal possible. The Lakers could end up with the best offer if rival contenders refuse to include their best young stars in negotiations, which could further weaken the overall market than expected.
If the Bucks look around the league and realize no one is offering a true franchise centerpiece, Giannis’ preferred destination begins to carry more weight. Instead of simply taking the “best” package available, Milwaukee could eventually prioritize flexibility or accommodating Giannis after everything he has done for the organization.
Clear Salary
The Lakers are expected to have about $49 million in cap space, but Giannis will make around $58.5 million next season. So, Los Angeles would still need to clear almost $10 million more before making the deal happen.
That likely means sacrificing depth pieces and involving additional teams. Names like DeAndre Ayton, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Dalton Knecht suddenly become important because their contracts could potentially be used in salary-dumping moves or complicated three-team structures. The Lakers would almost certainly need another team willing to take on salary in exchange for draft compensation or younger assets.
Austin Reaves Stays
The easiest path for the Lakers to get Giannis is probably through a sign-and-trade with Austin Reaves. But Reaves is an unrestricted free agent and wouldn’t have to agree to it.
And honestly, why would he want to leave? Reaves has become one of the Lakers’ most important long-term pieces and already looks like an ideal fit next to Luka. Leaving Los Angeles for a potentially rebuilding Bucks roster would not necessarily be an attractive basketball situation.
So if Austin Reaves refuses a trade to Milwaukee, he can remain with the Lakers, who would be more than happy to retain him.
LeBron Takes a Pay Cut
LeBron’s role in all of this is equally important because there likely would not be enough flexibility remaining for him to continue making superstar-level money. For the money to work, LeBron would return on either a minimum contract or the room exception, which would be around $9 million.
That would be a shocking pay cut for almost any superstar, but LeBron is at a different stage of his career now. He already has championships, MVPs, and virtually every individual accomplishment imaginable. If the Lakers presented a realistic opportunity to play alongside Luka and Giannis on a title favorite, maybe the financial sacrifice becomes easier to justify.
The Bottom Line
At the moment, the idea of the Lakers creating a “Big Four” with Luka, Giannis, LeBron, and Austin Reaves still seems unlikely. There are too many money issues, too many details to work out, and too many other teams that can offer better trades than Los Angeles.
Still, there is a way, even if almost everything has to go perfectly. But in today’s NBA, stars can change teams faster than anyone expects. For the Lakers, even a small chance to pair Luka and Giannis is enough to keep dreaming.
