When a team picks up a young, former 60th overall pick with 11 career NBA minutes, that team isn't usually going to move the needles. Not unless the team is the Los Angeles Lakers and the player happens to be the brother of the league MVP.
The Lakers have reportedly signed Giannis' Brother Kostas Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract after claiming the younger brother off waivers from the Dallas Mavericks. This report comes from The Athletic's Shams Charania.
The young Antetokounmpo will potentially spend his time with the G League's South Bay Lakers this season and will continue to be a developmental prospect. Even in the G League, he only averaged 3.6 points per game with the Texas Legends last season.
With his last name, however, some speculations were made. There are rumors that the Lakers are preparing to get the MVP players when he's scheduled to hit free agency in the 2021 offseason. Come to think about it, it's kinda funny signing the younger Antetokounmpo to a deal that doesn't even guarantee whether he'll be in the league this season or not will have any impact on the what the Bucks decide on in the future.
For one, the Bucks have already pilled this off. They signed Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the oldest brother, to a two-year deal after a quiet stint in the EuroLeague. Another team could even draft Alex Antetokounmpo, who is currently 17 years old, in the 2021 draft.
The Lakers are done signaling their intention to his 2021 free agency with significant cap space, but more effort is needed other than merely signing one of his brothers to a two-way deal. And also, Antetokounmpo doesn't appear to be interested in moving to LA at all.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Antetokounmpo "enjoyed the opportunity to be back with his teammates and in the city he calls home as the Bucks prepare for a difficult, critical final 25 games of the season. He also appreciates the comfort of playing in a city where the spotlight isn't as bright as Los Angeles."
But Antetokounmpo apparently said that he "could never see myself being out there," and that are a "little bit crazy" in Los Angeles.
Remember that we're talking about something that would happen two years from now. A lot can change on both teams. Antetokounmpo has a mind of his own, but whatever the Lakers' plans are, things aren't looking too good right now, at least for the MVP player.
