Heat's white whale doesn't appear to be asking out - Hot Hot Hoops

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo would have a lot of interest leaguewide, including from the Miami Heat. (Mandatory Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

While it may not directly affect the Miami Heat, the Milwaukee Bucks and superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo are in a weeks-long staring contest regarding a potential trade.

In any scenario, Antetokounmpo would almost certainly garner interest from the Miami Heat. The two-time MVP is still a top-3 player when he’s healthy and can completely change the landscape of practically any franchise.

When most stars become disgruntled, they typically send very clear messages — privately and publicly — about their discontent. Antetokounmpo, however, is quadrupling down, at this point, about his commitment to the Bucks’ organization.

“There will never be a chance, and there will never be a moment that I will come out and say, ‘I want a trade,’” Antetokounmpo told The Athletic’s Sam Amick in a recent interview. ““That’s not … in … my … nature. OK?‘

“I am not (going anywhere). I am invested in this team. I want to turn this team around. I want to play good basketball. I want to be healthy. I want to help my teammates. I wanna win games. … I’m locked the f— in. I’m locked in.”

The Bucks entered Friday at 17-21, 0.5 game behind the Chicago Bulls for the fourth-and-final play-in spot. It’s worth mentioning that they are 3.5 games behind Miami; that’s not a big gap.

In mid-December, it was reported that Antetokounmpo and his representation were talking with the Bucks about their future together. Since then, both sides have played a game of chicken — publicly, at least — about a potential trade.

Milwaukee will do anything — they paid Damian Lillard $113 million to go away for Myles bleeping Turner, for christ sake — to build a contender around Antetokounmpo. And the nine-time All-Star wants to do everything but damage his reputation by requesting a trade.

He will be extension-eligible this summer; should he decline it (the most likely scenario), he’ll be open for business. If he does extend there, then good for him — even though the situation there is fairly dire!

As for the Heat, they will have more pick flexibility over the summer. Though Antetokounmpo’s market would also be presumably bigger, too, depending on various teams’ outcomes over the next several months. Thus, the Heat would be involved in yet another bidding war — where they’re bringing a rock to a gun fight.

Ideally, Miami would look to try to acquire as many assets as they can ahead of the deadline so they have some ammo for Antetokounmpo — or another (super)star talent. It doesn’t have enough now and won’t then until proven otherwise, though.

Heat’s white whale doesn’t appear to be asking out – Hot Hot Hoops

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