The long-standing relationship between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks may be coming to an end. Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the two-time MVP is ready for a change of scenary, whether it be now or in the summer. If the Bucks want to speed up the process, they will have their share of options, and the Miami Heat feel like the most obvious suitor.
The Heat feel like a legitimate team that could snag Giannis
Per Charania, the Bucks would like a blue-chip prospect and/or a surplus of draft picks. Teams like the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, who have been rumored Giannis suitors for years, do not have those assets. The Knicks can offer Karl-Anthony Towns and second-rounders. The Warriors own a handful of draft picks in the distant future. None of that screams desirable.
Miami's potential offer isn't anything to move mountains for, but there's an argument to be made that it is the best available among current rumored suitors.
The Heat can forge a deal around Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins/Terry Rozier's expiring salary, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and all of their available draft capital. The Heat do have two first-rounders that are trade-eligible at the moment. Obviously, the Milwaukee Bucks would love more in a blockbuster for their superstar talent, but the young talent here does make up for some of that.
Yet, even if the relationship between the Bucks and Giannis has soured, there is a chance this trade saga gets dragged out into the summer. As Charania outlines, teams will gain access to more draft capital in that window, beefing up their trade offerings in the process. With Giannis out for the next month and the Bucks likely angling toward getting a high draft pick, they have no reason to rush.
Now that the Milwaukee Bucks are officially open to Giannis trade inquiries, the list of suitors will only grow larger. Miami, New York, and Golden State have been heavily mentioned for years, but now, the floodgates will truly open. Perhaps there will be some dark horse suitors who will emerge that have better offers than Miami, but until then, this feels like the Heat's race to lose.
The next week will be incredibly telling. After spending over a decade in Milwaukee, there's a chance that Giannis will be on a new team. Nothing is set in stone just yet, but this story just took a turn that everyone figured could happen sooner or later.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.