For the first time since the July 22 Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster, Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst faced the media to discuss the franchise-altering decision.
The deal netted the Bucks four players and five picks, headlined by Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware and the No. 13 overall pick in last month’s draft. The Bucks met their self-imposed deadline, which was the draft, to trade Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and arguably the most accomplished player in franchise history.
While the 10-time All-Star is coming off a down — and injured — season, where he was limited to just 31 games, Horst believes Antetokounmpo has plenty of gas left in the tank.
“No one’s sitting here today and saying that we’re a better team today after trading Giannis,” he said, according to The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. “He’s one of the greatest players to ever play, (the) greatest player in the franchise history. We’ve had an incredible amount of success. And as I’ve said to Miami a couple of times, he’s going to have an unbelievable season for them. [They’ve] got an incredibly motivated, healthy, focused Giannis Antetokounmpo that I think is going to have an unbelievable season and seasons, for that matter.
Last season, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists across a career-low 36 games. He dealt with a calf injury for much of the season, but still shot a career-high 62.4 percent from the floor with a career-best 65.8 true shooting percentage.
The deal was made official on Monday less than two hours after the July moratorium ended.
Antetokounmpo’s introductory press conference with the Heat isn’t expected to be until Thursday, July 16. Although Antetokounmpo did reveal in a recent Youtube video that he’s scared of change.
“I’m scared the gass isn’t always greener,” he said. “People love me here (in Milwaukee). People respect me here. People allow me to be myself here in the city.”
If Antetokounmpo is as motivated — and healthy — as many expect him to be, the Miami Heat are an easy threat to win 50-plus games and compete for homecourt in the Eastern Conference. Though that also assumes that their young players, such as Pelle Larsson, Nikola Jovic, Dru Smith and Myron Gardner, take leaps.
Additionally, they will need quality, efficient 3-point shooting from veterans Andrew Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bobby Portis, who shot north of 45 percent from 3-point range last year.
The Heat still has three open roster spots and is north of $10 million from the first apron hard-cap.
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My favorite Lebron get your city hyped article has been the one where they quote Windy and how Lebron is “seriously looking” at the 76ers. Windy goes on about how much Lebron just loves Maxey. Then it says how Lebron wasn’t even looking at Philly until the Brown trade. But wait, you said he really LOVES Maxey but wasn’t looking at them at all. Yeah, lots of love in the city of brotherly love. lol
Sports personalities used to report sports pretty objectively. There would be “some” bias for your home team, but it would still be presented fairly.
Nowadays, sports personalities try to emulate social media influencers and it’s pretty disgusting. We get these hot takes and ridiculous statements that they are never held accountable for. I can’t even count how many times these guys are flat out wrong. Sometimes these folks make me feel like a sports genius (I’m not).
The latest podcast with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul had the Sixers owner on his knees practically begging for Lebron. This is where we are at today. ESPN hypes up these situations so that people will give up those clicks and views and they make money off of the advertising. So much BS…
I can’t wait for the season to start. Enough of these philosophical speculations in the off-season.
Excerpts from article entitled:
3 NBA teams that will regret their offseason movesStory by Nathan Zuniga
Miami Heat
The Heat landed Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the best players in the NBA. So how could they end up regretting the move?
Miami gave up Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, Kel’el Ware and a massive haul of draft picks. That’s essentially the franchise’s entire future. It leaves the Heat without any proven guards, and beyond that, it leaves Giannis and Bam Adebayo as the only notable players on the roster.
If the Heat don’t land LeBron James, this offseason will be remembered as an utter failure.
lmao
I swear… AI writes some of these articles. Because you can tell a lot of thought wasn’t put into those statements.
So what’s the roster at this point?
Starters:
-Bam-Giannis-Wiggs-Hardaway-Mitchell
Bench:
Portis-Jovic-Pelé-Dru
It would be great of they could get a wing better than Hardaway or Wiggins, but that gtes ‘expensive quick. I think this team really needs a lead ballhandler that can pass. Something like a Jovic-for-Scoot Henderson trade. They could use more shooting, but I’m honestly not sure a vet like Beal or DeRozan is doing much more than fighting for Dru & Pelé’s minutes.
So I dunno. A motivated Giannis makes this a ferocious playoff team. But they’re not competing for a title until they add a wing/guard that can REALLY score
Simone, Conwell, Gardner,
I mean, sure. But those guys are fringe NBA players. Hopefully 1 or 2 of the g-league guys step up too. But that doesn’t change the overall complexion of this team
This is what I really don’t understand. I believe you, like many here, were enthusiastically on the Giannis bandwagon. Now, several of you are lamenting that we don’t have enough to, what? Compete? Win a ring? Make it to the ecf?
While I was not a strong proponent of gutting the team, I think it will be just fine, competitive, and I will enjoy watching them. But I won’t change my opinion that if they don’t win a championship during Giannis’ tenure, the trade will have to be considered a failure.
It could only be considered a failure if you could know what the other build could have accomplished. What if that previous build with Ware, Herro and Jak was like the 76ers and crapping out in the 2nd round for a few years in a row? What if this build loses in the ECF, comes back and makes Finals just to lose? So I’m not of that failure mindset if they don’t win because the other option might have been worse from a following your team hoping for the best perspective.
Now if somehow the Bucks win the Finals in one of the next 4 seasons then okay. 😉
The real question is where would the Heat have been either way? A strong deep team on the way up or a team in decline with aging players and a limited budget?
I get it, Sunny. You didn’t want Giannis or waiting for Lebron. If they both end up on this team I’ll be having a blast, but will feel bad for you that you’ll have to watch that crap. 🙂
Second Round? We’re talking about a team that lost in the 9-10 play-in game last season, and got swept in the first round the season before that. The Heat team was bad. Now they’re good. I’ll take it, championship or not
LOL! I was giving them some hope that adding a rookie this year, while Ware gets better, and a Herro stays healthy, but yeah. I don’t think they would make second round either
I guess I’m the outlier here. But this team has been in the play-in every year since the pandemic. I don’t understand the “Championship or Bust” mentality. I’m just glad we don’t stink anymore
Exactly. That’s the deal you make with the devil when you push all your chips to the middle of the table. All in, win big or lose big. No plan B.
The only person who makes that bet is someone who is desperate or someone with nothing to lose because he’s playing with house money.
Oh yeah, I’m 100% on the Giannis bandwagon. I don’t think this team is quite there to win a Championship.
But we’re talking about a team that was in the play-in for like 4-5 straight years. All of a sudden a 50 win team that makes the Conference Finals is a disappointment? I don’t agree with that. I also don’t think this team has to win a Championship right away. If it takes a couple years to build this team to full strength, so be it.
In general, I’m just not one of those people that measures success by ringzzz. You know that my old screen name was Odom Butler Wade. Named after a team that got eliminated in the second round. I like that squad better than the Shaq team that won the title. The journey is the destination. I like having Giannis on this team. If this team is more fun to watch than the 3-day old leftovers we were watching all of last season, then this trade is a success.
That’s right! I forgot that was you and glad you reminded me. I was so bummed when we traded for Shaq and my buddy said I was an idiot. lol I just loved that team
Not everyone saw it the same way. I totally enjoyed watching Jacquez break out. I was intrigued by a young athletic center who showed the ability to grow into a 20/10 guy who could shoot 38% from 3. I loved watching a lower second round pick who showed he would step up without fear. I was intrigued having a 19 year old who worked hard and was one of the best 3 point shooters amongst all rookies. I appreciated the business like approach to the game and mellowness of Wiggins. I enjoyed Powell’s first half of the season. The team improved by 4 games and had two picks in the upcoming draft that might help them improve further. Cam Carr, Philon, or Steinbach plus Conwell or similar player in the second round could keep the team moving in the right direction. What could we get for Herro? Lots of storylines for me. Sorry you were bored.
I will enjoy watching the team, as always. I don’t expect them to win it all this season and that’s okay. But if they don’t get at least one in his time here, and with few available assets to rebuild, it would be a huge mistake. We could have gotten Kawhi and kept more players and more assets. And I happen to have a lot of respect and admiration for Giannis.
I didn’t oppose trading for Giannis. I did disagree with the price Miami paid. I still have my doubts about going from 0 to 60 (lottery to title) in one trade, but that’s just me.
I too hope the Heat is able to get LaBron. With him, Miami can be very competitive. Without him, not so much.
I don’t want the Heat to lose out on free agents that could help strengthen the team while Riley waits for LeBron’s protracted decision-making process. It can’t be all that hard. If he selects Miami it will have been worth the wait. If he doesn’t, oh well.
Personally, I don’t see LeBron going back to Cleveland unless it is for sentimental reasons.
I don’t see him going to Philly unless he is really serious about winning a title. Quite a cast they have assembled there, especially if they add James. Embiid, James, Brown, Maxey, Edgecombe, Philon, Simons, Wade, plus any other players willing to play for vet minimum in order to have a shot at a ring.
I too was enjoying the journey and was looking forward to the Heat developing into a strong title contender through re-tooling. They were halfway there and could have been very competitive (through trades and the draft) in 2-3 years, or less.
I’m an old school kind of guy. I enjoy watching young players develop and seeing the rising tide lifting their teams’ boats. I’ve seen it done many times before with the 70’s-80’s Dodgers, the 80’s Lakers, the 90’s Bulls, Spurs and Cowboys, the 2000’s Warriors, etc. I was confident it would happen in Miami.
There are fans all over the NBA who would be elated if their team made the play-ins 4-5 straight years. Especially if they could see a light at the end of the tunnel with the young up and coming players and potential draft picks. That’s not the case in Miami where fans want a title now at all costs…tomorrow be damned.
One thing I’ve learned about the Miami Heat and its fans is that there is no need for me to develop attachments to any of the Heat players because they are nothing more expendable commodites, like cattle or slaves. In Miami, players don’t count, winning is all that matters.
GO HEAT!!!
okay, no argument. If you liked watching this team finish 9th and flame out in the play-in or first round, I’m happy for you. I didn’t. I barely watched last season. I’m not interested in watching a bad basketball team strive for mediocrity.
Next season, this team is trying to be the best team in the league. Are they going to get there? Probably not. Maybe if they get LeBron, or make a great midseason trade. Otherwise, they’ll be one of the better teams in the East, hopefully make it to the 2nd or 3rd round.
I don’t consider a 2nd or 3rd round exit a failure. I consider it the best Heat season since ’22
I don’t consider a 2nd or 3rd round exit a failure.
When you push all your chips into the middle of the table to get a top 5 player, you do so for one reason only – to win a championship. With a Cam Carr, Comwell, further development of Kas, Pelle, Ware, and Jaquez, getting what they could for Herro, and another strategic move or two, and that team could have also made it to a second round exit. And they’d still have all their young players and assets. Now there is a 3 or maybe 4 year window to get a ring, after which, the outlook for this team may be pretty bleak. I take a long term view of sports and life even though I am well into the third third. I want to have fun now AND in the future.
But, as mentioned, I root for this team every year and I will do so this season. I stick with the Heat, Dolphins, and Canes every year. I confess I have not done the same with the Marlins, who are finally having a good season. I expect the Heat to do well with Giannis, no doubt. If they add the right players or LeBron, the sky is the limit.
Yes, now is a championship or bust.
Hard to do that with a very limited budget unless someone wants to gift you their services for vet minimum. To bad Jakucionis was traded.
Bucks GM: There would have been no Giannis deal without Heat’s Jakucionis.
“Specific to him and our excitement for him, listen, he’s a big guard, he’s a recent first-round pick from a Miami organization that I think does a great job in the draft,” Horst said in the media session that included Bucks beat reporters, Milwaukee broadcast outlets, ESPN and The Associated Press. “He is incredibly competitive, incredibly hard-working, well-regarded by his college coaches, well-regarded by the (Lithuanian) national team, well-regarded from Miami folks. So, we’re excited about him. We’re excited about his positional size, we’re excited about his mentality, the pureness by which he plays the game. He plays the right way. He’s a table-setter. He’s a true point guard. He’s a very good shooter at a young age.
“He’s found a way to have a rotational impact on a Miami team last year, which means a lot for a coach in (Erik) Spoelstra who we have a lot of respect for. So we’re excited about him and excited to see him and get to know him more and see how he grows with us.”
hmmm, I remember someone suggesting he’s too big for a pg. I disagreed at the time and nice to see the Bucks GM does too.
Just before the trade was announced, neither Portis nor Jakucionis was included in the proposed transaction. I think Milwaukee GM twisted Riley’s arm to get Kasparas in exchange for Portis.
Riley should have held out and offered him 2026 second rounder instead.
Jakucionis has a bright future as a PG/SG or combo guard. Tenacious defender, good playmaker, good 3 pt shooter.plus he’s a gym rat. He has more potential than any of the others Miami traded
I absolutely will be watching that team with great interest. Most comments I’ve seen on their blog show they are excited about the possibilities and their future.
I know exactly how they feel. Its a new chapter for the organization, the team, (as well as several new players) and the fans. The rebuild has started off with a very good jump start.
Following is a partial list of current personnel:
NAME: PPG /APG /RPG
Herro: 20.5 /4.1 /4.8
Porter Jr: 17.4 / 7.4 / 5.2
Rollins: 17.3 / 5.6 / 4.6
Jaquez: 15.4 / 4.7 / 5.2
Ryan: 14.3 / 1.7 / 2.5
Kuzma: 13.0 / 2.7 / 4.5
Turner: 11.9 / 1.5 / 5.3
Ware: 11.1 / 0.7 / 9.0
Green: 10.4 / 1.9 / 2.7
Trent: 8.1/ 1.2 / 1.0
Plus
Jakucionis,
#10 pick Brayden Burries,
#13 pick Nate Amendt and
#60 pick Malique Lewis.
All first round picks 2026-2033 (2 in 2031)
Several second round picks.
The “Young Bucks” should be exciting to watch this season, even if they are a little raw and aren’t always competitive. They will likely be a lottery team next season with the potential to be a play-in team in 2028 and possibly a playoff team in 2029. Much will depend on how the team drafts, how quickly the young players develop and if successful/ productive trades are made.
This year, instead of NBA Team Pass, I think I’ll get NBA League Pass. I look forward to seeing a few Bucks games to keep tabs on how our boys are doing.