The Los Angeles Lakers have never been shy about chasing superstars. They landed LeBron James, then Anthony Davis, and most recently Luka Doncic. This time, the names in play are Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Jokic and Doncic have always shared a solid friendship, and talk of the two Europeans joining forces has never gone away. Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, has been surrounded by speculation ever since Milwaukee Bucks’ quick exit from the postseason.
For now, the idea of the Lakers trading for either Jokic or Giannis appears unlikely. Their plan is to roll forward with Doncic and LeBron leading the way, with the focus on building the right supporting cast rather than chasing another star. Still, the future always leaves room for intrigue. Dan Woike of The Athletic now takes a closer look at the Lakers’ chances ahead.
“The market would need to be way suppressed by a player saying they would simply walk to the Lakers in free agency so 28 other teams shouldn’t even consider bidding, and still the Lakers’ offer would be thin,” Woike wrote. “Now, 2027 in free agency, should either Giannis or Jokić make it there, could be interesting, especially if Dončić has the kind of season the Lakers expect out of him.”
