Reporter lists Lakers among three to watch for with potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

The Los Angeles Lakers enter the 2023-24 NBA season among the teams many believe could be capable of pushing the Denver Nuggets for an NBA title run. After a solid offseason and fresh off a year in which they made it to the Western Conference Finals, there’s plenty for the Lakers fanbase to be excited about.

But the idea of a possible trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo? Well, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, they may need to share that potential excitement with a few other teams. During a segment on “The Lowe Post” with ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Shelburne, the two discussed potential teams to watch in a world where Antetokounmpo is traded. For Shelburne, she immediately pegged the New York Knicks and Lakers, while also citing the Miami Heat.

“The Knicks & Lakers pop to the front of my mind. And then of course you have to bring up the Miami Heat. That’s the team whenever there’s a star that may become available, you have to bring up Miami,” Shelburne said.

Lowe echoed a similar sentiment, but specifically highlighted the Heat as the team to watch.

“Miami I’ve got [as a team for Giannis Antetokounmpo]. It’s just a matter of the same issue they’re facing with Dame right now, is their package is not super-duper enticing,” Lowe stated.

The Heat being circled as a fit for Antetokounmpo makes sense, especially if you factor in an outcome where they don’t wind up being able to strike a trade for Damian Lillard. The chatter surrounding a potential Lillard-to-Miami deal has cooled off significantly in recent weeks and appears fairly likely to roll into training camp, at the very least, possibly well into the new season.