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LAKERS NOT FAVORITES: WHY GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO TRADE IS UNLIKELY

Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo would have to severely damage his reputation to force a low-offer trade to the Lakers, making the deal improbable for now.

Lakers Not Favorites: Why Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Is Unlikely
Giannis Must Tank Rep to Force Trade to Lakers, Says Insider

After the Lakers beat the Bucks, Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo shared a hug.

Dan Woike from The Athletic suggests that if the Los Angeles Lakers somehow landed Giannis Antetokounmpo, it would be like hitting the jackpot—similar to how Luka Dončić surprisingly ended up with them.

Woike mentioned on the Lakers Lounge podcast that the Lakers aren't in a great position to make a strong offer if Antetokounmpo asks for a trade from Milwaukee.

Woike said that the Lakers' potential trade offers aren't that appealing. For Antetokounmpo to push for a move to the Lakers, he'd pretty much have to ruin his reputation, which doesn't seem likely. He's generally well-liked, similar to how Anthony Davis was seen. It would have to get really bad for Milwaukee to accept a low offer.

Why the Lakers' Best Giannis Trade Offer Isn't Good Enough

Woike explained that the Lakers could offer three future first-round picks and some cap space next summer, but he doesn't think it's enough.

Woike stated that the Lakers' offer next summer consists of three first-round picks and cap space, but that it simply isn't good enough.

Because of the current CBA rules, Los Angeles can only trade one first-round pick at the trade deadline and a maximum of three in the offseason. Woike noted that even with the maximum offer, executives he spoke with don't believe it would be enough for Milwaukee to give up its key player.

Woike thinks the only way it could happen is in an unexpected manner, like when they acquired Luka Dončić.

LeBron James, Austin Reaves, and the Salary Matching Issue

Woike pointed out that while the Lakers have LeBron James, they need to balance their plans with their current team:

Woike said that they need to consider what they have right now.

The trade value of Austin Reaves, the Lakers’ most appealing trade asset, further complicates things. Although Reaves is playing at an All-Star level, his $13.9 million contract is much smaller than Antetokounmpo’s $54.1 million salary, creating a challenge for a trade.

Lakers insider Jovan Buha agreed that even if Reaves were earning a max salary, he might not be the kind of player Milwaukee would want for their rebuild.

Buha said that if you're in Milwaukee, Austin is more of a player to help win now. They would want a very talented young player plus several picks, something the Lakers can't currently offer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Future Causes Excitement Across the NBA

The talks about Antetokounmpo’s future sped up after Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Antetokounmpo and his agent, Alex Saratsis, started talking with the Bucks about the team's direction due to their slow start.

Charania posted that a decision is expected soon, which started even more Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumours.

Teams are expected to line up as soon as the two-time MVP says he wants to leave, but multiple insiders say the Lakers aren't the favourites.

In short: The Lakers can hope, but they aren't leading the way.

Los Angeles will keep an eye on the situation and be ready if they gets a surprising call.

However, right now, insiders agree that a big trade sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Lakers is unlikely. Unless the superstar makes it clear he wants to go to Los Angeles, the Lakers might not have enough to offer and could miss out on a rare opportunity.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TRADE JAREN JACKSON JR. TO UTAH JAZZ IN 8-PLAYER BLOCKBUSTER

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, creating a record $28.8 million trade exception for 2026.

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Grizzlies finalise Jaren Jackson Jr. deal

The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads on Tuesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz. Along with Jackson, the Grizzlies shipped out Vince Williams Jr, John Konchar, and Jock Landale. Coming back their way: Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and, maybe the most important part, three future first-round picks.

And honestly, it feels like Memphis isn’t done stirring the pot. Inside the organisation, they see Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as the future. Both went late in the lottery in the past two drafts, and the Grizzlies landed some value in the second round this year, too, grabbing Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.

All this movement means Ja Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly looks shaky. He’s been the face of the franchise since they took him No. 2 overall back in 2019. When he’s healthy, he’s electric—no question. But injuries and off-court drama have slowed him down, and now, with the trade deadline closing in, the Grizzlies are openly shopping him. Teams around the league are watching.

There’s another wrinkle here: by dealing Jackson, Memphis created a massive trade exception—$28.8 million, the biggest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania. It’s a huge chess piece. With that exception, the Grizzlies can absorb big, ugly contracts from other teams in exchange for more draft picks. Think of what the Thunder did a few years back—stockpiling picks by taking on bad deals until they rebuilt into a contender.

Now, you’ve probably heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name floating around in trade rumours. He hasn’t officially asked out of Milwaukee, but everyone in the league expects something to happen soon. Teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks are circling. The Grizzlies? They’re not likely to chase Giannis directly. But with that trade exception, they could play a big role as a third team—taking on salary dumps or unwanted contracts, collecting more picks, and helping another franchise pull off the Giannis blockbuster. Memphis just put itself squarely in the middle of the NBA’s hottest rumour.

KLINT KUBIAK SNUBS NFL RIVALS TO LEAD RAIDERS’ NEW ERA UNDER TOM BRADY

The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, with Tom Brady leading the search.

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Klint Kubiak is set for the Raiders as Seahawks coach faces the New England Patriots

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a huge shakeup right now. Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to become their new head coach—and honestly, he’s nothing like Pete Carroll.

Kubiak’s still in his 30s, calling plays on offence, while Carroll just wrapped up last season as the NFL’s oldest head coach. The Raiders had their eyes on Ben Johnson previous year, but when he decided to take the Bears job, they turned to Carroll instead.

This time, Las Vegas seemed to have that same level of interest in Kubiak, but they had to wait things out because Seattle was still in the playoffs. Tom Brady, who’s a minority owner with the Raiders, clearly played a big part in picking the new coach.

Since nothing’s official until after the Super Bowl, Brady can’t come right out and talk about Kubiak joining the team. Still, he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing what he liked about the guy.

“Klint’s played to his team’s strengths. Last week, he did a ton of good things against a really strong Rams defence,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “That’s what it took for them to win. The Rams are a tough team. That game in Seattle could’ve gone either way... Seattle really had to play a complete game in all three phases to pull it out, and they’ll need to do the same this weekend in Santa Clara.”

Brady also talked about Fernando Mendoza.

Another big reason the Raiders’ coaching job is so appealing? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone expects them to grab Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Brady doesn’t have to be secretive about it—nobody’s jumping ahead of them in the draft. He was pretty open about how much he likes Mendoza.

“What do I value most? When I see him, he’s always talking up his teammates. He wins the Heisman, and he’s giving credit to everyone else,” Brady said. “That’s the kind of attitude you want in a leader.”

Kubiak focused on the Super Bowl, not the job switch.

Kubiak’s career is about to take off, but right now, he’s locked in on trying to win his first Super Bowl. So, he isn’t ready to talk about the Raiders just yet.

“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “I’m just excited for this week and this game.”

Not everyone in Seattle is thrilled to see Kubiak go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had nothing but praise after working with him this year.

“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said Monday. “The stuff I picked up from Klint—just with schemes, and then learning from him as a coach and a person—the grit. He’s up before the sun, gets to the facility at 4 or 4:30, and leaves later than anyone. The guy just grinds. He loves football, and he’s always straight with his players. I know I really appreciated that, and so did the rest of the guys.”

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