As we inch closer to summertime, it appears that the Milwaukee Bucks trading Giannis Antetokounmpo this summer is a when, not if. And, in a perfect world, the organization would preferably like a deal done by the 2026 NBA Draft, which begins June 23.
The Miami Heat’s worst-kept secret is that they will be pushing for Antetokounmpo — hard. They have pursued the Bucks’ two-time MVP for over a half-decade, and Heat president Pat Riley said during his end-of-season press conference that he’s going to be “aggressive as hell” to improve the team.
But do the Heat have the means to accomplish that? Former Heat guard Gary Payton does not believe so.
“I wouldn’t want to lose what they have with the guys that they got,” Payton said, according to DJ Saddiqi. “They’re gonna have to give either Bam (Adebayo) up, and then one of the other shooters, they would have to give one of them up. They have to give somebody up. So then you’re going to build around one person. I don’t know how that’ll work.
“You’re gonna have to give up Herro, you’re gonna have to give up Bam, you’re gonna have to give up somebody. “Wiggins is on there too. You gotta understand you gotta give up some of these players or you got to give up one or two of them. That’s what I’m saying. … I don’t really think that’s going to be a sure championship. I think they’ll get better, but I don’t think they’ll be. It depends on who’ll be around them.”
Heat need a reset, but at what cost?
Obviously, the prospects of acquiring Antetokounmpo are a tantalizing one. He’s still an MVP-caliber player when he’s healthy.
However, the Heat are in a unique position. They need a superstar to dig themselves out of the self-inflicted grave they dug. But they’re more than just an Antetokounmpo away from competing with, say, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, the two prohibitive title favorites out West.
To acquire Antetokounmpo, it’s going to have to be uncomfortable. But how uncomfortable are the Heat willing to get — and, most importantly, how uncomfortable should they get?! There are a few teams that can give up a haul and still have enough to build a contender around Antetokounmpo by virtue of existing talent, free agency or draft capital.
You could argue the Heat don’t quite have that luxury, especially if it was forced to give up all three of their tradable first-round picks plus a combination of Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. or Pelle Larsson.
Obviously, at the end of the day, you’re going to have to give something to give up something. But I’m curious to see where the line in the sand is for the Heat brass.
Heck, given the state of affairs, there may not be one.
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when theirs a top 5 player out there still in his prime u go and do everything to get him.theres only two players id want over him wemby joker,if kawhi was a few years younger hed be a top 5er,one of those two better be on the heat next year.the draft is a real crapeshoot u can get a justice winslow way more than an all star and to get a top 5 player thats real long shot.milw gm failed the greek so let pat build around the greekmore is still needed but the gap has been narrowed substantially.fastest way to overcome wemby is getting greek and kawhi sort of like bron and bosh and keep adding.i wouldnt mind if every stinken heat player was shipped out.theres nothing on the roster that excites me.butler was the whole fn team w/o him barely playin team
Is a 31 year old (turning 32) who has missed 125 games, in the last 6 years in his prime?
27 pts 10 reb 63 % did miss some games they all do,yes hes still in his prime.hes playing still like a top 5 player
Miss some games? He misses roughly 25% of possible games over the last 6 years.
Quit confusing folks with facts.
i would give my left testy to get him.is he still a top 5 player,bam is a top 30 player maybe.time to get greek see what follows i doubt we get him anyway so its prob a moot point.
What makes you think the Arisons will pay for a supporting cast for Gianni’s when they wouldn’t do it for Quitter? I don’t like the idea of giving away your young core players and several draft picks for one player.
If you look around the league, most of the good teams drafted and developed their ss players. Most of the trades involving high profile players over the past few years have not resulted in championships. Luka, Lillard, Mitchell, Gobert, Quitter, Townes, Brunson, Banes, Kahwi, George, Durant, etc.
The one proven way to rebuild a team to be a true contender is to draft and develop players. The higher the picks, the faster the rebuild. After you have developed a solid team and at least one ss of your own, you go out and trade for or recruit a second one.
maybe who the f wants to suk for 5-10 years.theres a team in broward co thats gonna be champ contender for a few more years mickeys well aware of that
Starting when?
arison is cheap no doubt thats a problema spurs didnt make playoffs since 17,if that happened to the heat i mean theres alot to do down here,im an old fart so id still watch but.those young fans bye bye.miamis a front runner town sm.
Four straight play-ins is not a front runner. It is mediocre af. Talking big, getting hopes up and failing to get a deal done has gotten old. Fans are tired of the b.s.
mickey$$$ not going to tank panthers are a champ contender
Yup. He keeps talking about the fans not showing up, yet most seats and season tickets have been sold for a team that has WON ONE PLAYOFF GAME IN THE LAST THREE YEARS!! And he keeps talking about scenarios along the lines of Giannis, Kawhi, Bam, and re-signing Wiggins and Powell without having a clue that it would be impossible to do that under the terms of the CBA. Not to mention you would have to add at least 9 more players to that group.
ja wants a new start he can come cheap.damar last chance to win ring he come cheap kawhi last chance for jewelry all spurned by the greek.its time for a super team to take town wemby down here
Ja will come cheap except for his contract. Kawhi will cost more and also has a big contract. Probably right about DeRozan. Got a few weeks before we know how it plays out. The waiting is the hardest part
At least they’ll get better. The chatter, or criticisms, won’t stop even if Heat get Giannis. Yes, there’d be celebration in Heat fandom but lots of work will be needed before they’ll even contend. Giannis to Miami is definitely a step forward. Good system + legit ss a surefire contention? Not that easy. But people will be happy.
Herro is an expiring contract and Jaquez is an RFA after this year. Ware is not a difference maker, the on off numbers make that clear. Trading those three plus picks for Giannis would be a big win for the Heat. Is it worth giving up Jakucionis in that trade is the question. Bucks lack overall talent and need anyone with upside.
Milwaukee will squeeze all the teams interested for everything they can get. For Miami to have a chance to get him, they will need to outbid teams by offering better players and more draft picks. They will need to sell the ranch. They will need to put all their eggs in one basket…and hope it doesn’t fall. One serious injury could set Miami back for several years.
Or a decade.
so youd prefer to give up ware before jaco?
Until/unless Jovic gets his s@#% together, it will be difficult to trade him. He’s dead weight. If Heat loses Jaquez or Larsson to pay Jovic, somebody needs to get fired.