Luka Dončić joining the Los Angeles Lakers this season was one of the most shocking trades in NBA history. While the Lakers succumbed to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the Mavericks didn’t make it to the postseason.
Some wild trade ideas involving Dončić have been floating on the internet. A Lakers insider shared his take on one that required the Lakers to trade their latest superstar signing for another big name.
Lakers Insider Explains Why Luka Dončić Wouldn’t Be Traded for Another Superstar
Lakers insider Jovan Buha hosted a Q&A session to answer questions about the best offseason trades, the buzz around centers, and free agency. One of the viewers came up with a crazy trade idea for the Lakers and asked the host if he would do that deal.
“Would you trade Luka for Giannis if possible? Every current Lakers player, including Bron, could fit well with Giannis than Luka. Giannis could be the next Bron when Bron retires as point forward,” the viewer questioned.
Buha didn’t take much time to show his disapproval of the deal. However, he agreed with the user to some extent.
“I would not. I think you can make the argument. So, if you want to make the argument, I don’t think you are wrong, and I think there’s something to that. I think Giannis is currently the better player [but] I don’t think that’s always been the case,” he said.
The Lakers insider backed his opinion with last season’s data.
“I think last year, for example, you could have made the case that Luka was better than Giannis… In the regular season, he averaged 33, almost 34, points a game, basically 34, 10 and 10. He didn’t quite hit the triple-double numbers, but he was right there, led the team to the finals,” Buha added.
He cited health and age as the other reasons behind his choice.
“I think they are pretty close, in my opinion. But the big factor for me is that Luka is four years younger than Giannis….Giannis has been a beacon of health, but you wonder how long that can sustain. He has been something of an iron man, but he has more mileage on his body; he has a very physical style of play. So, I wonder how Giannis is going to age at 33, 34, 35.” Buha went on.
Buha believed that Dončić has long-term upside, so he would prefer him over Antetokounmpo. While Antetokounmpo is a proven star, he’s currently under a five-year, $228,200,420 contract with the Bucks, making Dončić the more appealing option for the future in Buha’s view.
“I agree with the prem[ise]. I think Giannis is better right now. So, if you want to look at it through that lens and make that trade, I get it. But I would rather bet on the long-term upside and in the longer window with Luka. Because I think Luka is the guy who should age well, assuming he takes his conditioning and weight more seriously moving forward, which I think he will,” he said.
The insider concluded by saying that teaming them up would be ideal, but Giannis is going to be 31, which changes the timeline a bit.