Q: The Heat have to roll the dice to get a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat need to leave the play-in purgatory. If Giannis gets hurt with a calf or Achilles, it would be unfortunate, but not forever. So yes, all in. – R.L.A.
A: But even the best-possible package put forward as a hypothetical might not be enough in light of the draft capital others could offer. The thought here was a package of Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis and the contract of Terry Rozier. The draft portion was the two first-rounders the Heat currently are eligible to trade at the moment, 2030 and ’32, as well as one more acquired by trading Andrew Wiggins anywhere where a first-round pick can be acquired. Plus pick swaps. It’s a lot, but still would leave a starting lineup of Giannis, Bam Adebayo, Pelle Larsson, Norman Powell and Davion Mitchell, plus a bench that still would include Nikola Jovic, Dru Smith and Simone Fontecchio (who potentially could then be flipped for a lesser salary to possibly escape the luxury tax).
Q: We would be an injury/calf away from being the current Bucks. Don’t do it. – Dim.
A: Reasonable concern, that if Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury history gets even worse, that it would leave the Heat in an even worse purgatory than their current predicament. But at some point, you have to accept that play-in is not good enough. If there is an overriding Heat concern with a Giannis deal it might be making sure not to wind up in the luxury tax, and therefore in the repeater tax. But the injury risk is one you would have to accept.
Q: It would be a monster gamble on a guy over 30 with four calf strains in the last two years, which can lead to Achilles issues. But in the end, no superstar, no chance at a title, so I suppose you roll the dice. – Tom.
A: And it would be quite a roll. Still, this also can’t turn into a one of those players-that-got-away debates if another team cobbles together a draft package that the Heat can’t match, since that is mostly what this is about. And all of this still remains within the conjecture of whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is dealt by the Bucks at all by the deadline.