Executives, agents around the league believe Giannis will be traded to Miami

(Mandatory credit: Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

With the NBA Finals set to begin, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade landscape is getting closer and closer to finally materializing into the superstar’s next destination.

There have been teams rumored to be in the mix— the Portland Trail Blazers, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and even the OKC Thunder. But none have come even close to the magnitude of reported aggression in pursuing an Antetokounmpo acquisition than the Miami Heat.

As a reminder, Milwaukee Bucks owner and front office representatives have iterated that they are seeking clarity on a long overdue Giannis trade by the June 23 NBA Draft. In doing so, the Bucks put themselves in position to make an extra first-round selection in this year’s draft lottery and reap instant benefits of their upcoming Giannis-less rebuilding era. Milwaukee owns the 10th overall pick and Miami has the 13th— with it being rumored that the Heat haven’t hosted even one single workout for that pick in anticipation that it will be part of an inevitable Giannis deal.

And according to The Athletic’s senior writer Sam Amick, there are executives and agents around the league that believe Antetokounmpo will ultimately be traded to the Heat:

“The noise surrounding the Miami Heat and Antetokounmpo remains louder than all the rest. Many people around the league, from agents to executives, continue to believe that Antetokounmpo will end up in Miami when this saga comes to an end…”

(per Sam Amick)

Amick also iterated that Antetokounmpo prefers to stay in the Eastern Conference, where he is a closer flight to his hometown in Greece and has better opportunity to regain control of a wide open East for years to come. But that’s not all that has been leaked in recent reports in regard to Miami’s link to Giannis.

Giannis has reportedly been eyeing up joining the Miami Heat since 2020

Jake Fischer, NBA insider of Bleacher Report and the Stein Line, revealed that he’s heard of interest in taking his talents to South Beach from Antetokounmpo for years now— dating all the way back to 2020.

“I still have Miami as the real kind of team that I’m pinpointing for (Giannis Antetokounmpo)… Miami has been a spot that’s been on his radar that I know definitively from various sources who are familiar with Giannis, that he’s been looking at the Heat dating back to 2020… The Heat have been on Giannis’ radar for the better part of this decade now.”

(per Jake Fischer)

Giannis has been interested in joining the Miami Heat since 2020, per @JakeLFischer:

“I know definitively from various sources.. He’s been looking at the Heat dating back to 2020… The Heat been on Giannis’ radar for the better part of this decade now.”
pic.twitter.com/dDOeCTjAFV
— Hot Hot Hoops (@hothothoops) June 3, 2026

This report would line up accurately to just how long the Heat have had interest in Giannis themselves. Pat Riley and the front office have repeatedly been aggressively attached to Antetokounmpo for years now, and they are assuredly motivated to finally make their whale dream come true with his long anticipated arrival to Miami.

There have been obstacles that have come in the way of these Heat-Giannis pursuits. Most recently, the Bucks backed out of all negotiations at this year’s February trade deadline in hopes of getting slightly better offers this summer.

Well, now this summer is vastly approaching, and Miami remains heavily in the mix. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Milwaukee “seriously considered” taking the Heat’s trade deadline offer in advanced negotiations between the two franchises a few months back.

Perhaps this time around, an extra asset or two can inevitably get Riley and company over this finish line.