The season’s conclusion is a month away, and we still don’t know who will rep either conference in the Finals. Amazing right? Arguably the greatest playoffs in a while may be followed by perhaps the greatest off-season of all time. And regardless of who becomes the champion, the off-season headlines will only feature one name – Giannis Antetokounmpo. We still don’t know where the Greek will end up, despite the Bucks getting eliminated over two weeks ago.

There’s no doubt that all 29 teams will be eyeing his signature. The rumor mill has been churning out trade ideas by the second. And regardless of how unrealistic it looks, the Warriors do seem to have the backing. They control five future first-round picks (2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2031) and three future second-round picks (2025 No. 41 via Miami, 2030, and 2031) that are fully their own and thus freely tradeable.

That, along with the player assets they have, could put Golden State in prime position to get Giannis. “But the Warriors have several first round picks. They have Jonathan Kuminga, they Brandin Podziemski. You can at least concoct a trade of a bunch of assets. Who knows? They could put Jimmy in a trade again, right? Like they have things they could do. Well, but I’m just saying you could trade Jimmy somewhere else for other stuff. There’s a world where they could create enough assets where I could talk myself into believing there’s a world where Giannis could get to the Warriors,” said Tim Bontemps on Brian Windhorst & the Hoop Collective.

Of course, the existence of Jimmy Butler could be a factor. He only came in the winter, and has been a revelation in the Warriors’ royal blue and yellow. But if the Luka Doncic trade taught us anything, it’s to never take anything for granted. Especially when a team like the Warriors have the capability to.

But we shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves here. Obviously, not every team has the resources to get Giannis. Coincidentally however, it’s the Lakers who are at the top of that list. It’ll be a dream to get Giannis Antetokounmpo to lineup beside LeBron James and the Don. But is the dream too far-fetched? According to Bontemps, yes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo to Lakers is nigh impossible, says Bontemps

First off, Giannis will have to want to go to a team. And his word is final, says Brian Windhorst when he said this on the podcast: “Could any of those teams trade for Giannis? Yes. Could they trade for Giannis. Yes. But the only way I see it is if Giannis says ‘I am only going there’. And even then the Bucks could play hardball. They don’t have to do it because he’s got two years left on his contract.”

Now, onto the Lakers. Unlike their rivals, they’re struggling with squad depth and rotation. Austin Reaves is looking for a way out, and LeBron James is 40 – nowhere near his best. On top of that, they have zero first and second round picks until 2031 – which means they can only offer players and money in exchange for Giannis Antetokounmpo. All of this is doubled down by Bontemps when he said that they have “no ability” to get them.

“But the Lakers, the Lakers have no ability. This is what I was saying. There is no world where the Lakers can trade for Giannis. They don’t have anywhere near enough. could at least make an argument. I think it’s a harder, I think it’s a hard argument to make given what other teams have,” said Bontemps on the Showtime’s chances.

Don’t get it mistaken- these are all just ideas. We still won’t know where Giannis Antetokounmpo will end up until his talks with the Bucks conclude. But we can count the Lakers out of any of these conversations. The Warriors on the other hand? Completely different story.