With less than two weeks remaining before the NBA’s Feb. 5 trade deadline, Bill Simmons introduced a headline-grabbing scenario that would reshape the league’s landscape, proposing a straight-up blockbuster that sends Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Simmons raised the idea on the latest episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, framing it as a dramatic, all-in pivot by Los Angeles as the deadline approaches.
“Next one is just a straight one with the Lakers. It’s just Luka and Kleber’s expiring for Giannis.”
Simmons framed the hypothetical as a bold declaration of intent from the Lakers, centered on maximizing their championship window around LeBron James while retaining key complementary pieces.
“It’s just the Lakers saying f—k it and turning Luka into Giannis. Paying Reaves, keeping LeBron.”
The proposal immediately drew skepticism from co-host Chris Ryan, who questioned the plausibility of the idea from multiple angles.
“Bill, is Rich Paul in the room with you?”
Simmons acknowledged the unconventional nature of the concept, particularly from Milwaukee’s perspective, but argued the Bucks could treat Doncic as a short-term asset and create a league-wide bidding war.
“No, I want to talk it out. The part that makes no sense is Luka going to Milwaukee, but if you’re Milwaukee you do this now and you have two weeks to trade Luka. Remember when all the teams were mad last year? Remember last year, like Utah, they were like we have 17 picks, we would’ve traded all of them for Luka if we knew he was available. It’s like alright Milwaukee has now acquired Luka, here is the auction, lets go. You guys got two weeks to make us your best, and then they basically just shop him.”
Bill Simmons fuels Lakers-Bucks trade idea with Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo
For now, Doncic remains firmly entrenched as the centerpiece of the Lakers. The 26-year-old signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension last August that includes a $57.7 million player option for the 2028-29 season. In his first full year with Los Angeles, Doncic is posting career-best production, averaging 33.4 points, 8.7 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 33.3% from three across 35 games. He is logging 36.4 minutes per contest and has helped the Lakers reach a 26-17 record, good for sixth place in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is set to face the Dallas Mavericks (19-26) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Antetokounmpo, 31, whose name has frequently surfaced in trade speculation amid Milwaukee’s struggles, is in the first year of a three-year, $175.3 million extension. He is earning $54.1 million this season and holds a player option worth $62.7 million for the 2027-28 season. Despite the Bucks’ 18-25 record and 11th-place standing in the Eastern Conference, Antetokounmpo continues to deliver elite efficiency, averaging 28.2 points, 9.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game while shooting career highs of 64.7% from the field and 39.5% from three in 29.1 minutes per contest. Milwaukee is scheduled to host the Denver Nuggets (30-16) on Friday night at 9:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
While Simmons’ proposal remains firmly in the realm of speculation, it underscores the volatility surrounding the league as the trade deadline approaches and the growing sense that even the biggest names may not be untouchable.
