In just one week, NBA fans were able to: read an exposé about Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss with claims she’s grown tired of LeBron James; see New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown hugging Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green after he committed a flagrant foul on Karl-Anthony Towns; and hear Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo continue to make critical and cryptic comments that fuel speculation that he wants out of Cream City.
Who would have thought that there would be so many stars on the outs with their current teams?
Can Lakers-Knicks-Bucks Blockbuster Trade Solve Everything?
In a solution-oriented world, many have been trying to come up with trades that would right the NBA.
Perhaps the Lakers should trade James to the Golden State Warriors, a transaction that was nearly in-play a couple of years ago. Maybe it’s time for the Knicks to use Towns to make a move for Antetokounmpo, a scenario that could have played out last summer. Or, the Bucks could put Antetokounmpo on the trade block, sending him to the highest bidder.
What if there was a trade –just a single transaction –that could satisfy each of these team’s needs?
Lakers-Knicks-Bucks Trade Parameters
Bucks receive: Karl-Anthony Towns, Pacôme Dadiet
Lakers receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Thanasis Antetokounmpo
Knicks receive: LeBron James, Bronny James
The Bucks will likely want draft compensation for trading Antetokounmpo, even if they do receive an annual All-Star candidate like Towns.
If so, the Lakers should send their 2031 first-round pick –or the first-round picks they’re considering flipping it for –to Milwaukee. As a token of appreciation for helping them get off of Town’s contract, replacing him with a legend on an expiring contract who’s playing at an All-Star level as of late, the Knicks should send their 2026 first-round pick to Milwaukee as well. Yes, New York’s draft cupboard is desolate. Nonetheless, their 2026 first-round pick shouldn’t hold much value on Draft Day if they’re as good as they should be.
Of course, the NBA isn’t NBA2K and these aren’t the ones that typically take place. Furthermore, though each of those teams is in an awkward place with their stars, the situations may not have deteriorated past the point of no return. Therefore, this isn’t a deal that has a high probability of happening, as riveting as it would be.
However, despite there being myriad reasons this trade wouldn’t go down, there’s enough smoke to entertain the possibility. With that in mind, if the Lakers, Knicks and Bucks did agree to a blockbuster headlined by James, Towns, and Antetokounmpo, what would it all look like?
Los Angeles Lakers
If the Lakers were to pair Antetokounmpo with Luka Doncic, they’d be nearly indomitable on offense.
With the highest scoring average (29.0 points per game) among active players, Doncic has earned plenty of acclaim for his shot-making prowess with his combination of size, ball-handling, touch and instincts. As if that wasn’t enough, he’s an adroit facilitator, even making passes that seem to bend the laws of gravity. In many ways the antithesis of Doncic, Antetokounmpo’s a physical marvel due to his blend of length and explosiveness. In recent years, he’s also become a respectable low-post and mid-range threat.
With a supporting cast headlined by Austin Reaves, they’ll be a surefire title-contender (no matter what happens down the line with players like Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart).
Trading a player of James’s stature isn’t an easy decision, even if he’s 41 years old and set to be a free agent in a few months. However, if it’s going to happen, there are few better players for him to be traded for. Antetokounmpo is not only 10 years younger than James, he’s a league champion and two-time MVP who’s universally considered one of the most dominant two-way players in the NBA.
2025-26 Statistical Comparison
James: 22.5 points, 7.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 0.7 blocks per game on .510-.333-.740 shooting splits
Antetokounmpo: 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks per game on .647-.395-.645 shooting splits
New York Knicks
The Knicks have been floated as a franchise that James wouldn’t mind playing for since his 2010 free agency. 15-plus years later, James still seems like he’d be willing to play for them. From their rich history to New York’s history with the rich and famous, they’re essentially the East Coast version of the Lakers. Less successful in terms of championships, of course. Yet, Madison Square Garden’s still a majestic arena with a hint of magic in the air.
As for why they would trade Towns for James?
At the end of the day, it isn’t just that Towns isn’t clicking with his head coach. His decision-making and shot-making have left a lot to be desired this season. His defensive shortcomings have never gone away. To that point, he’s also a player without a true position; he’s too stiff to consistently guard players on the perimeter and lacks the rim-protection one would expect from a center.
With the Knicks in position to make a run to the NBA Finals, they need someone to simplify the equation.
LeBron James vs. Karl-Anthony Towns
Sure, James isn’t locking up players; the main criticism about him since arriving in L.A. has been his routinely lackadaisical defense. However, he’s still holding players below their average field goal percentage both inside and outside the arc. That’s more than can be said of Towns, with shooters finding their mark from outside more often when he’s their primary defender.
Offensively, James has been far more efficient, shooting over four percentage points higher than the five-time All-Star. On top of that, he’s a much more diverse offensive weapon. He can score in every conceivable way, hence him being the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. He’s always been one of the best passers in the league, which should help New York’s sludgy ball-movement.
Then there’s his encyclopedic basketball IQ and eidetic memory.
Essentially, he’d only help the Knicks where they’re weak. Keep in mind, they give up the third-most 3s (14.6 per game) and allow opponents to shoot 37.3% (27th in the NBA) on those attempts. Though they rank seventh in points per game (117.9), they’re 15th in field goal percentage (.470). They average 26.6 assists per game (12th in the league) this season but have been one of the league’s worst ball-moving teams this decade .
Speaking of decades, though James is much older than Towns, the latter is no spring chicken. At this point of his career, he’s on the wrong side of 30. Though he should be able to dominate for a few more years, longer than James will due to his impending retirement, it’s not like they’d be discussing moving a 25-year-old franchise cornerstone for him.
Of note, by swapping James and Towns’s contracts, they’ll be able to get $17 million under the cap this offseason. Frankly, that won’t be enough for a big fish in free agency. However, if they re-sign James for what would likely be his final season in 2026-27, they’ll become players in the 2027 offseason with what would potentially be around $100 million in cap space. That’s more than enough to go fishing; they’d be sharks.
2025-26 Statistical Comparison
James: 22.5 points, 7.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 0.7 blocks per game on .510-.333-.740 shooting splits
Towns: 20.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 blocks per game on .469-.363-.860 shooting splits
Milwaukee Bucks
From the Bucks side, the only reason to trade Antetokounmpo is if he explicitly demands one. The Greco-Nigerian’s perspective on team loyalty seemingly hasn’t allowed him to do that, yet. Even so, there’s a reason everyone is expecting them to part ways eventually.
Milwaukee’s somewhat counterintuitive efforts to keep Antetokounmpo satisfied –namely trading Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton for Damian Lillard and Kyle Kuzma –didn’t work. Having failed to meet expectations, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers’ messages may be falling on deaf ears. It’s become almost easy to remember that his sole championship came in 2008, 18 years ago; the amount of time it takes a human to reach adulthood. For a player who has proven he’s capable of leading a team to a title, Milwaukee represents no longer represents untapped potential but missed opportunity.
If they have to move on from Antetokounmpo though, they may not just want draft compensation though. They may want to remain competitive after nine consecutive playoff appearances. To that point, Towns isn’t on Antetokounmpo’s level but he’s arguably among the 10 best players in the Eastern Conference. As the undisputed No. 1 option, he may even be able to raise his profile, allowing the Bucks to sell high. That’s important with several stars becoming, or already, available on the trade market.
2025-26 Statistical Comparison
Antetokounmpo: 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.8 blocks per game on .647-.395-.645 shooting splits
Towns: 20.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 blocks per game on .469-.363-.860 shooting splits
© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images