(Photo via Getty Images)
The 2026 NBA trade deadline week has officially arrived, as the Thursday February 5 deadline is now just three days away.
This is often considered the best time of the season to many NBA fans, and the entire league continues to be on standby as they await the future destination of top-three talent Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is reportedly “ready for a new home.”
It’s been reported by several sources that the Milwaukee Bucks are finally open to fielding offers for the former two-time MVP. Though it’s not guaranteed Antetokounmpo is traded by Thursday (could be pushed to the offseason if no team meets the Bucks asking price), it is still a very high possibility.
Delaying such a move would have contract extension implications on Antetokounmpo and only make his Bucks situation this season more awkward. As ESPN’s Shams Charania reported, the four aggressive suitors for his services are the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.
Charania also reported that Milwaukee is seeking “blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks” in return here. The Wolves and Knicks have little-to-no young talent and draft picks whatsoever, and would need to get very creative with potential multi-team deals to get something done. As for Miami, they have the assets to meet those demands.
Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported earlier on Monday that there have been “internal” discussions on some potential framework the Heat are willing to offer in a package for Antetokounmpo.
Miami’s Giannis offer, per Barry Jackson:
- Tyler Herro
- Kel’el Ware
- Terry Rozier’s expiring contract
- Another young player or more
- 2030 First-Round draft pick
- 2032 First-Round draft pick
- Possibly pick-swaps in 2026, 2029 and 2031
In regards to “another young player or more” that Jackson stated, that could include any or all of Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson.
Heat’s Simone Fontecchio or Andrew Wiggins could also make it work financially if the Bucks aren’t interested in Terry Rozier’s expiring salary. Additionally, both those players could still be shopped in other deals in hopes of getting more draft capital to offer Milwaukee. Miami is operating under the assumption they could utilize Rozier’s contract in a trade despite being under legal investigation with his gambling scandal.
Ideally, the Heat could sport an elite two-way starting unit of Davion Mitchell, All-Star Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo when it’s all said and done.
Antetokounmpo has been a coveted target for the Heat’s front office for years now. In fact, he is one of the very, very few players in the entire association that Pat Riley and staff are reportedly willing to go all-in for. Fans have seen trade opportunities end in disappointment time after time ever since the start of this decade— most recently with showing reluctance to put all their chips on the table for a 37-year-old Kevin Durant this past summer.
But this is different. This is a top-three player in his prime years capable of catapulting any well structured organization like Miami into instant championship contention in a wide open Eastern Conference. This is the whale that Riley has been patient for all this time.
Will it be enough? We could be just days away from finding out.
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The odds right now “Giannis Antetoukoumpo’s next team” still have MIL ~40%, MIA ~20%, GSW ~20%, MIN and CHI ~10%.
I really don’t see a scenario where Giannis is still on MIL after the deadline. Would put it at 50-50 between MIA and MIN. MIN’s Jaden McDaniels and Joan Beringer are preferable to Herro and Ware, but MIA has more pieces to offer overall and Giannis has said previously he prefers warm weather and states with no income tax.
I think MIL would be asking for Herro, Wiggins, Ware, Larsson, Jaquez, Jakucionas and picks. They would also probably be trying to get off long term salary owed to Portis (2yr/$30m) and possibly Kuzma (1 yr/$20m).
Wiggins as the starting 3 in the above lineup in the article would be ideal but I don’t see the Heat being able to keep Wiggins in a Giannis trade.
If a trade resulted in the starting lineup of Davion / Norm / Pelle / Giannis / Bam it would be a good outcome for the Heat. Add shooting and athleticism to that (Miami could take back Portis, Gary Trent Jr, Andre Jackson Jr etc) and you’d have the contending team that the Bucks were trying to build around Giannis this year.
Davion / Dru
Norm / Gary Trent Jr / Andre Jackson Jr
Pelle / Myron Gardner / Fontecchio
Giannis / Jovic / Keshad Johnson
Bam / Bobby Portis
The 3 position would be a concern as it is for most teams but with a 4/5 of Giannis/Bam the team can really guard on the perimeter.
Pelle at 6’5, 6’7.5″ wingspan, 8’6″ standing reach maybe is a little undersized for a NBA 3 but still works because of his strength/athleticism/toughness (compare to Marcus Smart at 6’3″, 6’9″ wingspan, 8’3″ standing reach who would guard Kevin Durant in the playoffs)
Ideally, the Heat could sport an elite two-way starting unit of Davion Mitchell, All-Star Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins, Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo when it’s all said and done.
Too much for Giannis. Plus, All-Star Powell is not a two way player. All-Star Herro has a higher defensive rating per Statmuse. Jus sayin.
I just discussed this on the last post. I do it. If they accept our package, as reported here, we should consider ourselves very fortunate. We would be able to field a very competitive team. I am crossing my fingers as I don’t think you should pray for trades because God, if he even is in control, certainly has more important things to do. But, I would be so, so happy with the trade described here, especially if Wiggins did not become part of it (and why would they want him as their timeline starts two years further down the road). The two to three picks and Ware are going to hurt, and some of the players we would give up are good players (Pelle is my second favorite after Wiggins). But, we are talking instant excitement and a great chance to go deep into the playoffs. It’s probably too good to be true, but just having a chance is giving me a pep in my step.
And my opinion is herro is faking hurt so he and his agent can mess up his trade value. Guaranteed he plays the 6th if he’s still here I stand by that
He learned from the best…the quitter. Morant is doing the same thing.
The resident GM from ESPN, who pitches six potential Giannis trades, is biased towards other teams getting Giannis. But the other teams proposals make our offer seem quite viable. If they are really moving Giannis, we have a legit chance, especially if the Rozier situation can somehow be resolved and be part of the package.
I agree. Two first round picks is definitely a good price for Giannis (the Heat cannot include three of their picks), but I don’t think it will be enough.
Ware would be included 100 %, he is the biggest young talent on the Heat roster. Herro has to be included to match salaries, so he would have to be a part of the trade. But the Bucks might refuse to take on Rozier’s expiring contract and ask to include Wiggins instead (by trading him to another team for a younger player like Kuminga and a first round pick which would go to the Bucks). I would definitely demand that if I were the Bucks GM. And they will likely ask for another young player or players like Jaquez or Pelle or Jakucionis.
Competitive? Maybe. Still don’t think that’s elite, and if they give away the farm, the bench unit will be awful.
I for one am okay with an trade outcome, because I’m tired of being the 8 seed. Either tanking or shooting a shot makes sense. Tanking isn’t a option seemingly at this point, so I guess we go for the oft injured star and hope for the best.