Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future with the Milwaukee Bucks was a ticking time bomb. At 18-27, the Bucks are falling out of the race for the play-in in the weakest Eastern Conference in recent memory. And Antetokounmpo’s latest injury suggested there wasn’t going to be a conceivable path for them to stay relevant.
According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, the Bucks are finally willing to listen on trade proposals regarding the two-time MVP. Well, if a star’s on the trade block, the Miami Heat are going to have interest. In Antetokounmpo’s case, the Heat have been eyeing for him for a half-decade.
That said, Charania noted that the Bucks aren’t in any rush to trade Antetokounmpo ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. But if they do, the price tag is expected to be a, “blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks.” In that case, what is the Heat’s best trade package? Let’s examine!
What is Heat’s best offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo?
The Miami Heat are currently $7.2 million below the first-apron, where they are hard-capped, while the Bucks are $17.2 million below the first apron. The Heat only have two tradable first-round picks (2030, 2032) with swaps available in 2026, 2029 and 2031.
As we went over in the summer, outside of Bam Adebayo — theoretically the primary attraction for Antetokounmpo — the Heat’s most tradable assets include Kel’el Ware, Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Nikola Jovic, who currently has a poison pill contract, plus Norman Powell. Here would be among the best Heat offers they could offer for Giannis, assuming he’s the only player coming back to the Heat:
- Heat Receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Bucks Receive: Ware, Herro, Jaquez, Norman Powell, 2 First-Round Picks (2030, 2032), 3 swaps
In this very fake proposal, Milwaukee would receive a potential blue-chip prospect (Ware), an extension-eligible player in Jaquez, an expiring contract (Powell) and a one-time All-Star in Herro.
If the Heat don’t want to get rid of Powell and/or Jaquez, they could also add Jovic’s deal, even though there’s complications with his poison pill, Davion Mitchell and/or Kasparas Jakucionis.
How could the Heat potentially sweeten their best package?
This is where Andrew Wiggins’ $28.2 million price tag factors in.
While the Bucks reportedly “covet” Wiggins last offseason, a way for the Heat to unlock two more additional first-round picks would be acquiring a 2027 first-round pick, which the Warriors, for example, have access to. The Heat do not own their 2027 first-round pick, as a result of the Terry Rozier trade.
With those lottery protections that could roll into 2028, they cannot trade their 2026, 2027, 2028 or 2029 picks outright. However, should they acquire a 2027 pick, they would be able to move their 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032 first-round picks.
Thus, if the Heat acquired, say, Jonathan Kuminga plus Buddy Hield and a 2027 first-round pick for Wiggins, they would far more ammo they could offer in an Antetokounmpo deal — whether it’s completed over the next eight days or this summer.
What would be the most you’d be willing to give in a deal for the nine-time All-Star? Let us know in the comments!
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“According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, the Warriors haven’t engaged with the Miami Heat about Wiggins and don’t plan to. That contradicts earlier speculation from multiple NBA insiders who suggested Golden State was exploring frameworks that would send Jonathan Kuminga to Miami in exchange for Wiggins.”
Think MIL would want Herro, Ware, Jakucionas, and Wiggins (to send to a contending team) and that’s not ideal but doable. The Heat’s depth allows them the option of losing multiple rotation players in a consolidation trade
It should be Andrew Wiggins Terry rozier jamie Jacquez jr fontecchio jovic 2 first round picks 3 swaps