Q: Ira, why does everyone in the world know the Miami Heat\u2019s offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but all the other NBA teams seem to be holding their offers close to their vest? It\u2019s like a game of \u201cCan You Top This,\u201d with the Heat as the stooge for all the other teams in the league to beat. I wish we could go back to the days when NBA trades were made in private between two teams, like Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison did with the Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis trade.\u00a0 \u2013 Greg, Jacksonville.<\/p>\n
A: I\u2019m sure many teams would appreciate a Nico Harrison-type heist, with the lesson from the Luka Doncic deal being that you have to field offers from anyone and everyone. As for the Heat, it would be practically impossible to finish as the last team in the bidding for Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> at February\u2019s trade deadline and then act as if renewed interest isn\u2019t there. As for the Heat\u2019s offer being known, it also comes down to simple math, that Tyler Herro\u2019s contract would have to be included to make it work under the salary cap, since Terry Rozier\u2019s deal is off the books, Norman Powell is a free agent and Andrew Wiggins holds a player option. From there, it would be apparent that any suitor would want the Heat\u2019s top young prospect, which is where Kel\u2019el Ware enters the picture, and another young contributor, which has had Jaime Jaquez Jr.\u2019s name out there. Plus, of course, draft capital. What isn\u2019t as clear is the degree of the Heat\u2019s offer, when it comes to prospects and picks.<\/p>\n