While the Los Angeles Lakers added some much-needed shooting at this year’s NBA trade deadline, landing the league’s most efficient 3-point specialist, Luke Kennard, they failed to make any ground on a deal for a big-name player like Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Among those most disappointed was three-time All-Star and longtime Lakers fan Gilbert Arenas, who bluntly questioned LA’s mindset in a now-viral rant. Arenas called on the storied organization to take drastic measures to capitalize on its market appeal, even if it means leaking fabricated trade talks.
Gilbert Arenas Urges Lakers To Use Fake Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors To ‘Sell’ Global ‘Brand’
LA’s lone deadline move saw it flip struggling veteran guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Kennard.
The journeyman sharpshooter boasts an NBA-leading 49.7% 3-point percentage and complementary playmaking abilities, making him a valuable asset alongside superstars Luka Dončić and LeBron James on a spacing-deficient roster. Despite sitting fifth in the Western Conference (32-19), the Lakers rank just 21st in 3-point efficiency (35.0%).
Still, Arenas doesn’t see a bench backcourt upgrade moving the needle for LA. Speaking on “The Gilbert Arenas Show” over the weekend, he gave the deal an F grade, contending that the Lakers “traded an F player for an F player” who only averages a couple more points per game.
The 44-year-old continued to reason that a big-market franchise in a desirable climate like LA should be doing everything possible to get into the mix for top-tier players like Antetokounmpo. Arenas even floated the idea of feeding NBA insider Shams Charania fake intel to “sell” the team’s global “brand.”
“I give them an F because they’re the Lakers, and the Lakers are the Godfather,” Arenas said. “And just like previous years, we are star-studded over here. This is Hollywood. … We go after big names, key players, we make a splash. We want our logo, Lakers, around the world for things.
“We didn’t even get smart enough to put our name in trade boxes. Who’s the marketing team over there? What! I would’ve been hitting Shams in the back, ‘Hey, we’re about to make a play for Giannis. We’re trading LeBron for Giannis.’ Alright, boom! Headlines around the world. Even if I’m not doing nothing. Around the world, Laker news. It’s the brand, sell it!”
Gilbert Arenas argues that the Lakers should have leaked fake Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors involving LeBron James to sell their global brand. pic.twitter.com/rWm3EbKPQH
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) February 9, 2026
A made-up trade rumor involving James being shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks in a package for Antetokounmpo would’ve been far-fetched for multiple reasons. James holds a no-trade clause and would almost certainly have no interest in joining a rebuilding Bucks squad. Meanwhile, the four-time MVP is already 41 and nearing retirement, while Antetokounmpo, 31, is still in his prime.
Regardless, Arenas appears to be throwing credibility and plausibility out the window as he grows increasingly desperate to see the Lakers land a two-way superstar who can complement Dončić’s elite scoring chops.
