Pat Riley is known for coveting superstar talent. The Miami Heat missed out on Kevin Durant earlier this summer, as they failed to pry him from the Phoenix Suns. However, that doesn’t mean Riley won’t continue to bide his time and wait for the next star to hit the trade market.
That could mean that Miami emerges as a potential destination for Giannis Antetokounmpo, if his situation with the Milwaukee Bucks continues to deteriorate. And while the Heat aren’t expected to be one of his preferred landing spots, the franchise could likely put together an enticing trade package.
With that in mind, Matt Moore of FanSided recently proposed a trade that would send the 9-time All-Star to the Kaseya Center, should he become available. The trade idea looks like this:
Miami Heat Get:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Kevin Porter Jr.
Milwaukee Bucks Get:
- Tyler Herro
- Terry Rozier
- Nikola Jovic
- Kel’El Ware
- Two first-round picks
- Three second-round picks
“Jovic is valuable, but his value diminishes with Giannis there,” Moore wrote. “And you avoid paying Herro a big extension. You re-sign Norman Powell on a big extension and try to win now with Giannis-Bam-Powell.”
Riley would undoubtedly ensure that he surrounds Giannis with the necessary talent to compete with the Heat . The key would be surrounding him with two-way talent that thrives on the perimeter and can guard their yard defensively.
Heat Would Need Time to Build Around Giannis
For the Heat , the biggest drawback to acquiring Giannis would be that they wouldn’t immediately be ready to contend. The two-time MVP has made it clear that he wants to compete for another championship. Yet, the cost of prying him out of Milwaukee would likely mean the Heat needs a year or two to build a competitive roster. That likely won’t fly with Giannis, who will turn 31 on Dec. 6.
Sure, Miami could trade for Giannis, but he doesn’t owe the franchise any loyalty. He would likely opt out of his player option at the end of the 2026-27 season and make his way to a situation that would better suit his goals. Whether that means the Heat would become hyper-aggressive in the trade and free agent market, as they bid to appease Giannis, would remain to be seen.
Of course, this is all hypothetical. Nevertheless, it’s a potential scenario that could arise if Miami did find a way of striking a deal with the Bucks .
NBA Is Preparing For Giannis To Leave Bucks
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, who was speaking on a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, the teams around the NBA are preparing to see Giannis leave the Bucks in the near future.
“It is very clear to the whole league that Giannis’s situation in Milwaukee is probably short-term,” he said. “Could they surprise the league this year and have a great run in the Eastern Conference? I’ve seen stranger things. But the league is preparing for the end of Giannis’s tenure in Milwaukee.”
If, or more likely when, Giannis becomes available, the Heat will likely be listed among the interested parties. However, that doesn’t guarantee them a seat at the negotiating table. And, if Giannis has a desired destination, Milwaukee would likely try to honor that.
Still, Riley won’t easily be dissuaded from trying to bring a genuine superstar to the Heat ; after all, that’s always one of his primary goals for the franchise.
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