(Photo via Getty Images)
When there is a player of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s caliber available, almost anything and everything should be expendable to get it done.
And that notion seems to reportedly be the case, outside of Bam Adebayo, as an Antetokounmpo blockbuster deal could become a reality prior to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. Over the summer, Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson noted that the Heat were prepared to make every single non-Adebayo player available if the Milwaukee Bucks star were to hit the trade market.
Of course, there has to be something left over to remain competitive, though.
At the age of 32, newly announced first-time All-Star Norman Powell fortunately wouldn’t align with a Bucks rebuild in a post-Giannis era anyway. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, they are searching for “young blue-chip talent” and/or draft picks in an Antetokounmpo haul. So Miami could potentially have a trio of Giannis, Adebayo and Powell to instantly contend with. But as Heat fans know too well, you still need role players to win an NBA championship.
If the Bucks and Heat were to agree on a deal, Milwaukee will have a young player pool of Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jovic, Kasparas Jakucionis and Pelle Larsson to choose from. Ware and Herro seem to be the locks to be included in any hypothetical deal.
Ideally, letting go of Jovic and Jakucionis would still leave Miami with a pair of strong rotation pieces that have had great years this season in Jaquez and Larsson. Jaquez has been an early Sixth Man of the Year candidate and Larsson has emerged as one of the team’s biggest x-factors and glue guys. The Heat have a 25-18 record when Larsson starts. The second-year wing is averaging 19 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals on 63% shooting and 54.5% from 3-point range over his last three games.
The Miami Heat reportedly “prefer” to keep Pelle Larsson out of a Giannis trade.
If it comes down to the inclusion of Jaquez or Larsson, it seems like the Heat would lean towards preferably keeping Larsson, according to Heat insider and analyst Greg Sylvander.
”I’ve heard the only player they prefer to keep out of the trade is Pelle but that’s more roster construction related than over valuing him. They will trade anybody for Giannis. Except Bam but only because they don’t have to.”
— Greg Sylvander (via 5 Reasons Sports discord)
Sylvander made sure to state that the Heat would still trade anybody outside of Adebayo if it comes down to it. However, Larsson is viewed as a valuable role player that has developed into a real impactful two-way piece during his opportunities on the court this season. He is the perfect type of supporting cast player to surround a Giannis-led core, and Sylvander’s comments essentially confirm that the Heat know so.
For the Bucks view, Larsson has less upside as a star-level talent than each of the likes of Ware, Jaquez and even Jovic— despite Jovic’s inconsistent season. They would be better suited to go for higher potential players like that than someone better fit as a role guy like Larsson to kickstart a rebuilding era. Still, the Bucks hold the power in any of these negotiations. Nobody will truly know the specifics of how they’d view certain Heat players.
The main thing is that Miami still seems willing to get a Giannis deal done by any means necessary.
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I see what the Heat sees. Pelle is already a pretty good all around player and seems to be figuring things out as he goes and adding more things that he can do. But, most of all, I just like his demeanor, how he handles himself out there. I often watch his face and there is a stoicness, a resoluteness, there’s no narcissism, only a how can I help this team approach.
I’d guess it’s either Pelé or Jaime.
It’s probably Herro, or Norm with fewer draft picks.
It’s almost definitely Ware, and Bam is off the table.
It’s almost definitely Rozier, unless Wiggins gets into a crazy 3-way trade.
And the Heat probably gotta take someone back,
If Pat Riley is still alive it’s Bobby Portis and not Kyle Kuzma.
After that it’s probably two firsts and maybe swaps.
If this trade happens:
My excitement for this Heat season goes from 2/10 to a 9/10
almost instantly
Me too. It’s a game changer. And, other players will want to come here and be part of it. If we get him, our chances will go up immediately, but next year will be even better.
I don’t want to get excited. The GSW probably gonna go all in and they have more picks and probably gonna offer Kuminga Podziemski and Draymond who might bring another pick (and young player) if traded. This would allow them to offer 5 picks. I guess it’s a better offer than the Heat can put together.
If I’m the Bucks, I’m asking for Wiggins, Ware, Jaquez, Larsson, Jakucionis, two picks and 3 pick swaps. But that’s just me.
you can’t ask for 5 players and 5 picks in exchange for 1 dude. Forget about “trade value” it’s just logistically impossible.
Bucks have a ton of scrubs they can throw if pure numbers are needed. None are worth keeping.
And Mitchell.
Get this over with so we can (happily or bitterly) move on. Meanwhile Rozier won the arbitration on releasing his salary vs NBA and Heat. So we got duped again. The $$$ should be shouldered by Silver. Unfair. Injustice to the franchise and the whole of Heat nation.
WTF is Riley doing about the Rozier situation? Miami is getting the shaft (with no KY) from the NBA and Charlotte on that deal. Throw in the Jovic extension, and I think there are more than enough facts to fire Riley if he doesn’t come through (by Thursday) with a big trade that makes Miami a contender.
mickeys bf never never happen.
That’s the truth. That’s why it’s been so frustrating. He’s pretty much unaccountable to the team, the city, or the fans. When was the last time you heard any of his thoughts on the team’s direction? When was the last time he had a press conference?
I agree. I always thought his job performance started to suffer with the Lowry trade. Since then it’s been spotty.
Yep, we aren’t getting much help from the league for our troubles.