Three NBA teams look to be eyeing a move for Giannis Antetokounmpo, which has directed their offseason moves.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential desire to leave the Milwaukee Bucks has been one of the biggest stories of the offseason. Antetokounmpo loves Milwaukee, but wants to win another NBA title. Despite their best efforts, the Bucks have failed to build a contending roster.
Giannis Antetokounmpo looks set to stay with the Milwaukee Bucks this season, but teams around the league have spent their offseasons positioning themselves to go after the Greek superstar in free agency. These three teams in particular have been planning for that eventuality.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are negotiating with Jonathan Kuminga in a contract saga that has spanned the summer. That’s stopped them from bringing in any other free agents. The Warriors are the only team not to make a signing or re-signing this summer.
Kuminga has been offered a two-year, $45 million deal, and the Warriors have been so far unwilling to move from that position. That would mean Kuminga’s contract would end in 2027, getting him off the books for when Antetokounmpo could become a free agent.
To the frustration of Steph Curry, who wants the Warriors to make moves, Golden State have been locked in a stalemate all season. They are so dug in that they risk Kuminga leaving for nothing in 2026.
It seems unlikely that the Warriors are dead set on keeping Kuminga off the books for when Antetokounmpo becomes available by coincidence. Especially when all of their potential free agent signings would be to short-term deals.
Expect Golden State to go all-in on Antetokounmpo if he hits the market.
Los Angeles Lakers
The LA Lakers, like the Warriors, have had an offseason steeped in controversy. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, considered leaving LA in search of his fifth championship. He thought the Lakers had a “lack of direction” after trading for Russell Westbrook.
According to reports from NBA insider Shams Charania, the Lakers are targeting free agent signings in 2027. He said, “LeBron James understands and believes that the Lakers are prioritising their long-term future with Luka Doncic, looking at 2027 for max salary spots.”
Again, 2027 is the year Antetokounmpo’s contract with the Bucks is completed. DeAndre Ayton signed a two-year deal with the Lakers, ending in 2027. As did Marcus Smart, who also signed in LA.
All these moves to keep their salary open for 2027. Has the Lakers’ offseason secretly been all about pairing Doncic with Antetokounmpo?
Miami Heat
The biggest player move of the summer was Kevin Durant’s trade to the Houston Rockets. In most summers, a two-time champion and MVP becoming available would have sparked a bidding war among teams hoping to edge out the competition. Not this summer.
The Rockets did not have to give up much for Durant. They sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Phoenix Suns as the biggest losses to their roster. The Miami Heat were one of the teams in competition with Houston for Durant, but they wouldn’t offer much.
In a weakened East, with Jayson Tatum out for the season, acquiring Durant would have positioned Miami to make a run at the Finals. Instead, they opted to hold on to their assets such as Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins.
If the Bucks decide to trade Antetokounmpo before he walks away for nothing in free agency, who can offer a better package than Miami?
They have some of the best young players in the conference and six unprotected first-round draft picks up to 2032. They could have made a move for Durant, but instead, the Heat left their options open.