Giannis Antetokounmpo To Lakers Trade Rumors Intensify

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have gotten off to a horrendous start to the 2024-25 NBA season.

As a result, Antetokounmpo has called out both his coach and his teammates over the past week.

Over the last few days, rumors regarding Antetokounmpo being traded have intensified. One team is viewed the frontrunner for his services – but the Los Angeles Lakers also loom in the background.

Despite Anthony Davis playing at an MVP-level, L.A. is only 5-4 on the year. They need another superstar.

Could Antetokounmpo be that?

This week, Bobby Marks of ESPN offered his thoughts on Antetokounmpo possibly being dealt.

“Any time a team like that is struggling, there’s certainly going to be questions about the future of Giannis,” he said.

“He is not looking to be moved. Milwaukee is not looking to move him. They’re looking to try to figure out kind of what went wrong with this roster to start the season here. So, I think we can put away the fictional Giannis trade proposals for right now. There’s no concern from that front.”

While Marks may thing trade proposals regarding Antetokounmpo are fictional, it is worth remembering what the Bucks star himself said at the beginning of this season.

“Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded,” Antetokounmpo told The Athletic. “This is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us. … If you don’t do a good enough job, you’re out.”

A lot of people thought that, with those comments, Antetokounmpo was laying the groundwork for a potential move. Now that seems like even closer to the truth.

This week Antetokounmpo admitted he was frustrated with Milwaukee’s 2-7 start to the season.

“As a leader of this team, your head cannot be down,” he said.

“You can be frustrated at times, for sure. I’m frustrated. If you’re not frustrated with losing, get the [expletive] out of here. Simple as that. But at the end of the day, we have another one in two days. We’ve got to be ready.”

The season is still young. But if the Bucks don’t get it together, it wouldn’t be all that shocking to see the Lakers or some other team step up and acquire Antetokounmpo via trade.