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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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
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.