There could be a Giannis Antetokounmpo resolution soon — very soon.
The New York Knicks were crowned champions Saturday night, defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. And the Milwaukee Bucks were reportedly waiting for the conclusion of those Finals before a final decision on where to send arguably the greatest player in their franchise’s history.
Most importantly, we are now nine days away from the 2026 NBA Draft, the Bucks’ self-imposed deadline for Antetokounmpo.
The Miami Heat have largely been the center of speculation to acquire Antetokounmpo, although they aren’t the one. There has been smoke surrounding the Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers and, most notably, the Boston Celtics.
Despite the increased speculation of another team undercutting the Heat for Antetokounmpo, they still have the most momentum among some insiders, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
“I’ve talked to some teams and well-placed league insiders who believe that momentum continues to rest with the Miami Heat when comes to getting a deal done,” Stein’s report read. “A deal, league sources say, that would feature Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and Jaime Jacquez Jr. as presumed certainties among Heat veterans to be headed to Milwaukee along with the No. 13 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft as well as additional but not-yet-specified draft compensation.”
The key word there is “some,” because it’s not a consensus.
“I have also spoken to teams and well-placed insiders around the league who believe that it remains possible that Antetokounmpo does not ultimately land on South Beach,” Stein said. “As we’ve been reporting since late May, Boston is increasingly projected to be the other landing spot that Giannis prefers to be steered to … without overtly pushing as hard as he possibly can.
“Does Atlanta or Portland want to be the third team that joins the party to acquire Jaylen Brown and help facilitate a trade that makes Antetokounmpo a Celtic? The closest thing to a certainty, as of publication time on this Sunday, is that we’re nearing clarity.”
The biggest factor is quite clear:
As Stein highlighted, most of the Heat’s package is quite clear: Kel’el Ware, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and three first-round picks. After that, it’s a combination of Pelle Larsson, Kasparas Jakucionis and Nikola Jovic.
But the Celtics hold perhaps the most attractive trade chip — among those discussed — by a country mile: Jaylen Brown. His contract may make many scoff, but the five-time All-Star averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 47.7 percent shooting and 57.3 percent true shooting.
The Boston Media Mafia — specifically Bill Simmons and Kevin O’Connor — have been at the forefront of reports of the Celtics’ interest in Antetokounmpo, despite silence elsewhere. Under president Brad Stevens, the Celtics typically operated from the dark, dating back to their moves to acquire Derrick White, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.
Clearly, someone is feeding them information. From where? Well, I guess we’ll see in the coming days. My best guess is that it’s being used as leverage. Still, it also wouldn’t surprise me if the Celtics are serious about acquiring a perennial MVP candidate to complement their Mazzulla-ball style.
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Miami Heat North
I won’t celebrate until we reel this whale into the boat, but Windy reporting now Giannis wants to come here. Take that Boston Celtics media mafia! Okay, I lied about celebrating early. 😛
I mean Dame only wanted to play for Miami too. How’d that workout?
Yup also nothing changed (the offer) from trade deadline til now
Apologies as I was not aware this was a no fun zone.
I mean some people are just being realistic and don’t eat up every story this team spins whenever fans or media questions which direction this franchise is headed.
Also fans of this team loves living in the past except for when it’s in a negative light. Hence the making it to the finals (no mention of them losing both times) meanwhile the teams biggest rivals have both won championships in the last ten years over this team and has essentially lapped Mia
Team needs a young player who hasn’t won and is hungry like a Jalen Brunson Jimmy butler type ss
But your up here joking about the “fun police” while this team is getting left behind by its contemporaries
The thing is, nobody really knows.
At least a half of the year there is quite a consensus what is the right Heat price for Giannis. Herro, Ware, one of JJJ, Kas and Pelle, whoever Bucks like from the rest, draft picks and draft swaps.
If somebody can beat this, I m fine with it. Giannis is just not worth more than that.
I mean if the Heat give up – Ware, JJJ, Kas and Pelle like some suspect, they’d have effectively zero bench players.
They’d be losing the #2, #6, #7, #8 and #9 players in terms of minutes played per game.
They’d also be losing three young players who had +144 (Jaquez), +80 (Larsson), and +72 (Kaspar).
I hope Giannis and Bam can start playing 48 minutes per game or you’re gonna get a lot of ugly runs when guys like Vlad Golden, Keshad and Niko start playing 20+ minutes per game.
Excerpts from allucanheat article earlier today:
Heat’s potential winning Giannis trade package is finally coming into focus
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Heat would send a package to the Milwaukee Bucks centered around Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and multiple first-round picks and possible other draft capital.
You can also assume that another piece or two perhaps Kasparas Jakucionis and/or Pelle Larsson, would be headed to Milwaukee as well. But, as Stein notes, Herro, Ware, and Jaquez Jr. are certainties at this point.
In this latest round of updates, Stein also made it clear that there are some executives across the league who believe the Heat are still in line to land Giannis, while others are buying the Boston Celtics as a rising threat to Miami.
While the mystery surrounding the Celtics has to be putting the Heat’s front office in a mental pretzel, one thing that is a certainty is that the Heat are very much still in the running. And, at this point, that’s all the Heat can ask for.
I feel a gut punch coming very soon. Again, it will be the Bucks doing the punching.
Don’t get Giannis whom I don’t want anyway gone head and hit that reset button should’ve been hit 3 seasons ago
Bam to clippers for that number 5, 2027 2029 picks Ben maturin
Herro for anything you can get honestly
Bye norm
50/50 on wiggins because he can be the vet on this team going forward
Build around number 5,13 possibly strike gold with 41
Continued development for jjj ware pelle
as well as Jakucionis, Gardner and Johnson.