The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the great beneficiaries of the influx of European players. Pau Gasol is the shining example in that regard, as the Hall of Famer helped Kobe Bryant lead Los Angeles to back-to-back championships and three straight NBA Finals appearances.
The Lakers kept that tradition alive when they acquired Luka Doncic ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline, and another door for a massive move could be opening just two months later.
The 2025 NBA Playoffs tipped off on Saturday, Apr. 19 when the Milwaukee Bucks traveled to face the Indiana Pacers. Indiana took Game 1 in dominant fashion, defeating Milwaukee 117-98 in a game that saw two of the Bucks' starters go scoreless.
It was emblematic of the situation that Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has found himself in at 30 years of age.
Antetokounmpo did what he could, posting 36 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in 38 minutes during Game 1. Unfortunately, the absence of Damian Lillard and the putrid play from members of his suporting cast made victory an impossibility.
With Milwaukee one game closer to its third first-round exit since winning the championship in 2021, it's fair to believe Antetokounmpo could be just three games away from requesting a trade.
If Bucks lose in first round, Lakers should make realistic run at Giannis
Antetokounmpo is already one of the greatest players in NBA history. His résumé includes a championship, a Finals MVP award, two regular-season MVP honors, a Defensive Player of the Year trophy, and six All-NBA First Team selections—with a seventh likely to arrive for 2024-25.
Antetokounmpo will turn 31 during the 2025-26 regular season, however, which makes it fair to question how much longer he'll be willing to accept the Bucks' quality.
Shams Charania of ESPN reported along those same lines, revealing that Antetokounmpo wants to remain in Milwaukee but will prioritize winning moving forward. It's an understandable objective, if true, as players tend to exit their athletic prime during their early-to-mid 30s.
With Antetokounmpo, a player whose all-out effort and generational athleticism help drive his success, approaching that age range, Milwaukee may not be the best place for him.
The Bucks are just three games away from losing in the first round of the playoffs for a third consecutive season. It also has polarizing fit Kyle Kuzma under contract for another two seasons and $42,775,757, which acts to limit its mobility in free agency.
Compounded by questions surrounding how much longer 34-year-old point guard Damian Lillard will be able to play at an All-Star level, the Bucks will need a massive offseason to retool in an adequate manner.
If that doesn't transpire, then it stands to reason that Antetokounmpo could request a trade as he attempts to maximize what's left of his athletic prime. In that scenario, the appeal of teaming up with Luka Doncic and forming a European in superteam in Los Angeles would be tough to deny—and Austin Reaves could be quite an opening silo in trade discussions.
The Lakers are by no means a lock to land Antetokounmpo, but the Bucks may be just three losses away from having to trade him.
