Sources: Giannis has ‘always wanted’ to play with and learn from LeBron

The Milwaukee Bucks opted not to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at this year’s trade deadline, and that was significant news for the Los Angeles Lakers.

This offseason, the Lakers can not only offer up to three first-round picks to the Bucks for Antetokounmpo, but they can also absorb Antetokounmpo’s massive contract into cap space without Milwaukee having to take back potentially undesirable salary.

Antetokounmpo, 31, will make $58.5 million next season.

The Lakers will aggressively pursue a trade for Antetokounmpo this offseason, and sources told Lakers Daily that Antetokounmpo has “always wanted” to play with and learn from LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

After the Bucks beat the Lakers in January at Crypto.com Arena, Antetokounmpo spoke about his admiration for James, the NBA legend who has won four championships, four MVPs and four Finals MVPs.

“I think he’s a blueprint for every athlete, not just basketball athlete,” Antetokounmpo said about James, via ESPN. “Being able to be consistent for 23 years. Available. Be a winner. Lead by example. It’s incredible. And any opportunity I have to be around greatness and compete against greatness, I will always take it. I never take it for granted.”

Antetokounmpo doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract, so he can’t force his way to the Lakers this offseason if he decides to request a trade from the Bucks.

Even if Los Angeles trades for Antetokounmpo, the forward’s dream of playing with James may not happen since James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018, and Baxter Holmes of ESPN published a column in January that detailed the strained relationship between James and Lakers governor Jeanie Buss.

The Lakers’ goal is to acquire another superstar around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Antetokounmpo is arguably the best player in the NBA and Los Angeles wasn’t aggressive at this year’s trade deadline because Rob Pelinka and co. are saving their draft assets for Antetokounmpo, sources said.

If James doesn’t retire from the NBA this offseason, it will be intriguing to see where he’s playing next season. One NBA exec told Lakers Daily that he believes James will either re-sign with the Lakers or return to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As for Antetokounmpo, he will be in trade talks again this offseason. The Greek Freak is interested in getting traded to the Lakers to play with Doncic and James, sources said, but again, we don’t know for certain if James will be on the Purple and Gold next season.