With LeBron James edging closer to the end of his time with the Los Angeles Lakers, discussions about how he will be replaced are running wild. After missing the first month of the regular season with sciatica, James is scheduled to return to action after completing his rehabilitation assignment.
Sports bettors will be closely monitoring developments, with the Lakers at +1400 in Betway’s latest NBA betting markets to win this year’s NBA championship.
They have made a solid start to the season in the Western Conference, and will fancy their chances of maintaining their momentum with the 40-year-old back in the fold. While winning another NBA title with the Lakers is not beyond the realms of possibility for James, he clearly does not represent the long-term future of the team.
Replacing such an iconic figure will not be easy, but the Lakers need to think big when the time comes. Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo should be at the top of their list. Antetokounmpo has grown increasingly frustrated with the Bucks’ inability to assemble a roster capable of consistently challenging for the NBA title.
Although he has been strongly linked with the New York Knicks, the Lakers cannot afford to miss the opportunity to sign one of basketball’s biggest stars. Lakers insider Jovan Buha recently explained how the club could build a package that combines current players and future draft equity to sign Antetokounmpo.
“Giannis has left the door cracked open, but we’ve since had the reporting that his preferred destination was the Knicks, not the Lakers,” Buha said.
“It’s tough to find a Knicks-Giannis trade, so if, for whatever reason, that can’t happen, and Milwaukee refuses to play ball with New York, the Lakers can swoop in and potentially offer a competitive package.
“They will have three first-round draft picks as of next summer. So could you do something with Austin (Reaves) and three picks, and Dalton (Knecht) and Rui (Hachimura) – maybe a Rui sign-and-trade or something?”
The Bucks’ inconsistent start to the 2025/26 season has ramped up the debates about Antetokounmpo’s future, and the noise will only get louder as the campaign progresses. Bucks’ general manager Jon Horst believes he has assembled a team capable of winning the championship, but the early evidence suggests his confidence is misplaced.
The Knicks have had an eye on Antetokounmpo for the past couple of years under president Leon Rose and have been touted as his most likely destination if he leaves the Bucks. However, as Buha pointed out, the Knicks do not have enough assets to use in assembling a trade that would appeal to the Bucks. The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but have not lifted the NBA title since the 1972/73 season.
By contrast, the Lakers claimed the championship in 2019/20 and have a much better track record of success than the Knicks. Antetokounmpo reiterated his desire to play for a successful team during pre-season, before deciding to resist overtures to move elsewhere. “The same thing I’ve been saying my whole career – I want to be in a team that allows me and gives me a chance to win a championship,” Antetokounmpo said.
“I think it’s a disservice to basketball, just to the game, not to want it to compete at a high level, to want your season to end in April.”
“It’s not the first time. I had the same thoughts last year. I had the same thoughts two years ago. I had the same thoughts five years ago.
“It is never going to change. I want to be among the best. I want to compete with the best, and I want to win another championship.”
With James hurtling towards the end of his illustrious career, the Lakers must convince Antetokounmpo that he is the man to lead them into a new trophy-laden era.
