At this year’s NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers secured Luke Kennard, the league’s most efficient three-point shooter, in a move aimed at improving their perimeter scoring. However, they were unable to progress in landing a marquee player such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, leaving fans and analysts wanting more.
Former three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas, a longtime Lakers supporter, openly criticized the franchise’s approach during a viral outburst. He urged the organization to leverage its market position more aggressively, even if that means spreading false trade rumors to generate excitement.
Criticism of Lakers’ Trade Tactics and Proposed Strategy Using Rumors
The Lakers’ sole deal involved sending guard Gabe Vincent and a 2032 second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard. Kennard’s impressive 49.7% accuracy from beyond the arc and his complementary playmaking should help alongside stars Luka Dončić and LeBron James, especially since Los Angeles currently ranks fifth in the competitive Western Conference but only 21st in three-point shooting efficiency.
Despite Kennard’s talents, Arenas dismissed the trade as inconsequential, giving the Lakers an “F” for the exchange. He commented that the team essentially swapped one average player for another, with only a small increase in scoring output.
The 44-year-old basketball analyst further argued that a high-profile franchise in a major market like Los Angeles, with its global appeal, must do more to pursue elite players like Antetokounmpo. Arenas even suggested deliberately leaking fake trade information through NBA insider Shams Charania to enhance the Lakers’ worldwide recognition.
I give them an F because they’re the Lakers, and the Lakers are the Godfather,
Arenas stated.
And just like previous years, we are star-studded over here. This is Hollywood. … We go after big names, key players, we make a splash. We want our logo, Lakers, around the world for things.
We didn’t even get smart enough to put our name in trade boxes. Who’s the marketing team over there? What! I would’ve been hitting Shams in the back, ‘Hey, we’re about to make a play for Giannis. We’re trading LeBron for Giannis.’ Alright, boom! Headlines around the world. Even if I’m not doing nothing. Around the world, Laker news. It’s the brand, sell it!
Implications of a Hypothetical Giannis-LeBron Trade and Its Unlikelihood
The idea of a blockbuster trade sending LeBron James to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Antetokounmpo, although enticing for Lakers fans, remains highly unrealistic. James, who is 41 years old and has a no-trade clause, would likely resist joining a Bucks squad amid a rebuilding phase. Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo, still in his prime at 31, represents a rare two-way talent few teams can acquire.
Arenas’ proposal to fabricate such rumors signals his frustration with the Lakers’ current moves and his eagerness to see them land a superstar capable of complementing Dončić’s scoring ability. His remarks underline the pressure on Los Angeles to make bold decisions that align with their storied franchise status and global ambitions.
Gilbert Arenas argues that the Lakers should have leaked fake Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors involving LeBron James to sell their global brand. pic.twitter.com/rWm3EbKPQH
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) February 9, 2026
