(Mandatory Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Time is ticking on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks. The June 23 draft, the ideal deadline for Jimmy Haslam and the Milwaukee Bucks, is nearly five weeks away. And one could proclaim that whatever happens with Antetokounmpo will be the first big domino to fall this summer.
It’s safe to say that the Miami Heat are ready to make a sizable splash after another disappointing season. They have eyed Antetokounmpo for at least half a decade, too. But do they have the means to accomplish that, and most importantly, does Antetokounmpo feel the same way? According to an anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic, where over 150 players were surveyed on several questions, Antetokounmpo’s future was a topic of discussion.
NBA Players predict Giannis will be traded to Heat, if he’s moved at all:
(Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
Of the 151 players who tallied their votes, 23.2 percent — 35 players — predicted that the Miami Heat would be the new home for the two-time MVP. That number was second — to only the Milwaukee Bucks, who registered 45.7 percent (69 people) of the vote.
The New York Knicks finished third, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves, who heavily pursued Antetokounmpo ahead of the deadline.
Milwaukee Bucks: 45.7 percent (69)
Miami Heat: 23.2 percent (35)
New York Knicks: 16.6 percent (25)
Los Angeles Lakers: 3.3 percent (5)
Golden State Warriors: 2 percent (4)
Minnesota Timberwolves: 2 percent (4)
Among those who have also received the vote are the Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.
At the end of the day, it will be up to the 10-time All-Star and one-time champion as to where he wants to play. I’ve claimed before that I wouldn’t view Miami as a team with championship aspirations (which he desires), even in a weakened East. But I’m also not Antetokounmpo, obviously.
Health at this stage of his career will be a critical factor in his next team’s success. He only played 36 games with a calf injury and has missed small chunks of time over the last five seasons with myriad lower-body injuries. But Antetokounmpo is still an animal when he’s on the court, finishing top-4 MVP in five-straight seasons before his injury-plagued 2025-26 season.
Do you think the Miami Heat will land Giannis Antetokounmpo? Let us know in the comments!
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