Bucks Rumors: West Powerhouse Has Easy Route to Signing Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2027

The article examines whether Giannis Antetokounmpo might leave the Milwaukee Bucks, either via trade this summer or as a free agent in 2027. Analyst Yossi Gozlan suggests the Los Angeles Lakers are positioning themselves for the 2027 free agency period, when both Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić could potentially become unrestricted free agents by declining player options.

Gozlan notes the Lakers signed recent free agents Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia, and Marcus Smart to two-year deals specifically to maintain significant salary cap flexibility for 2027. Projections indicate the Lakers could have around $50 million in cap space that summer, factoring in expected new contracts for players like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. This figure could potentially reach $60 million if they move Jarred Vanderbilt's $13.3 million salary.

While the Lakers aim to create maximum cap space, Gozlan points out that the most reliable path for acquiring a superstar like Antetokounmpo remains a trade request. He states the Lakers' success likely depends on a targeted player expressing a desire to join them, allowing the team to leverage its cap space in a trade scenario, similar to how the San Antonio Spurs acquired De'Aaron Fox.