Can letters join the Lakers and form the Big Three with Luca Doncic and James? Is it feasible?

After losing in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks suffered first-round elimination in the 2025 NBA playoffs. The two-time MVP potential player scored 30 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks in the Bucks' final game.

Damian Lillard's Achilles tendon tear, his injury may last until the 2027-28 season, and the Bucks' championship window may end in the Antetokounmpo era. They lack draft funds and tradable assets, and things can get very complicated if they want to keep their superstar players. The Bucks have not reached the Western Conference semi-finals since winning the championship in 2021, and there are more reasons to believe Antetokounmpo may be looking for better opportunities elsewhere to compete for the championship.

The 30-year-old is now at the real peak of his career and will play in Milwaukee for three years next season with a contract extension of $175.4 million. If the Bucks agree with Antetokounmpo's possible departure plan, this is an ideal situation as this can get their ideal assets in return.

Although teams like the Brooklyn Nets have been reported as his potential next home before, once Antetokounmpo joins, this is another situation, and the immediate effect may not be reflected.

It would make more sense to team up with an established playoff contender and a superstar of another era. The Lakers, in particular, are an attractive potential next team.

However, can the combination of Antetokounmpo and Doncic be realized when the Lakers lack the assets that other teams can sell?

NBA simulation deal: Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Luca Doncic form the new Big Three together in the Lakers

A year ago, the Lakers probably had no best assets. However, a 50-win season and some top-tier role players' advancements have increased the team's chances of trading superstars very quickly despite their lack of draft picks. In addition, the Los Angeles Lakers' trade against Luca Doncic proves that a big deal is never out of reach. The Lakers need to join at least another team to reach this deal, just like Doncic's deal. While a direct deal between the Lakers and their squad rival Pelicans may be unlikely because of their history, New Orleans is likely to move out of Zion Williamson, which opens the door to three teams’ trades.

This is a three-team deal that sends Antetokounmpo to the Lakers along with LeBron James and Luca Doncic:

Lakers get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Carlo Mattkovic

Antonio Reeves

Bucks get:

Zion Williamson

Austin Reeves

Dalton Kneckett

2026 first round draft pick (via the Lakers)

2030 first-round pick exchange (through the Lakers)

Pelicans get:

Rui Hachimura Hiramura

Gabe Vincent

Maxi Kleber

2028 first-round picks (through the Lakers)

2031 first-round picks (through the Pelicans)

Lakers can use multiple draft picks and the expiring contracts of Hachimura Hiramura, Vincent and Kleber to win over the Pelicans to join the tripartite trade before the Pelicans' reconstruction and reorganization.

These players can also help them temporarily maintain a competitive roster of Dejont Murray, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III, as Murray and McCollum don't seem to be the hottest players in the trading market.

Meanwhile, the Bucks lost their draft assets in the deal, but had a chance to get Zion Williamson and another key star like Austin Reeves, perhaps the most tempting thing for the Bucks. Williamson's injury hindered his development, but he still has potential at the age of 24. Reeves, 26, can provide depth of point guard position before Damian Lillard returns from injury. He also signed a team-friendly contract. The Bucks have won another young player, Dalton Kneckett, who is one of the best three-point shooters in the 2024 draft.

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