The Miami Heat are a team to watch in the race to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose time with the Milwaukee Bucks appears to be nearing its end after 12-plus seasons.
A big factor is whether Antetokounmpo would sign with his new team considering that his current contract can end after next season. In that respect, Miami has an edge, per NBA insider Chris Haynes.
The Antetokounmpo rumors and speculation are ramping up after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the nine-time All-NBA player was preparing for a new home either this year by the Feb. 5 trade deadline or this offseason.
Charania previously reported that the Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors “are among the serious suitors” for Antetokounmpo’s services.
He is also eligible for a four-year, $275 million supermax extension on Oct. 1, per Charania.
One can guess the team that eventually lands Antetokounmpo, should he be traded, will provide a haul of players and picks to the Bucks. Therefore, it behooves that team to sign Antetokounmpo long-term and avoid having him as a year-plus rental before he can elect for free agency in 2027.
Charania provided more details.
“Because next season essentially serves as an expiring year on his contract, it increases his ability to position where he wants to be dealt. Any team willing to pay the steep price in both players and draft capital to acquire him would want to know whether he is committed for the long term. If traded in the offseason, Antetokounmpo would have to wait six months from the point of the deal to sign the supermax extension.”
In essence, it’s important that his potential next team agrees to terms on a new deal. Based on Haynes’ report, Miami is in a good spot.
Miami is getting some buzz elsewhere on the reporting trail, per Marc Stein and Jake Fischer for the Stein Line newsletter.
“Two teams have come up frequently in recent days in our conversations with various teams around the league that are either in direct pursuit of Antetokounmpo or closely following the situation,” they wrote.
Those teams are the Heat and Timberwolves, and the duo called the Heat “a natural leading suitor in this discussion.”
As far as a potential deal might work, Stein Line gave some insight.
“The Heat’s best offer is presumed to be a package headlined by Wisconsin native Tyler Herro, rising big man Ke’lel Ware and tradeable first-round picks in 2030 and 2032,” they wrote.
We’ll see if anything comes to fruition soon enough. The Giannis trade talks are growing louder by the day right now as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches.
In the meantime, Antetokounmpo is rehabbing a right calf strain that he said will keep him out from late February to early March.
The two-time NBA MVP has averaged 28.0 points on 64.5 percent shooting, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 29.2 minutes per game.