An overlooked factor in NBA contracts is state income taxes, and if Giannis Antetokounmpo were to go to the Miami Heat, it could be a reason why. Per NBA insider Jake Fischer (subscription required), Giannis' management group was assessing how a four-year deal with the Heat would have compared to a five-year deal with the Bucks in 2020. That chatter could potentially surface once again.
No state income taxes sound great (and are a nice pitch)
Giannis doesn't have a no-trade clause, but if he does request a fresh start, he will likely have to tell any interested suitors whether he will commit there. Although New York remains the team Giannis reportedly wants to join the most, Miami's leverage under state income tax laws could be a useful tool to sway him if the Bucks and Knicks can't come to terms on a deal.
Miami also wouldn't be the worst suitor from Milwaukee's perspective; they would certainly be better than the Knicks in terms of what they can offer. Tyler Herro has been an All-Star. Kel'el Ware looks like a breakout candidate in the making. Jaime Jaquez Jr. is having his best season. They could also offer the farm in terms of draft picks. The Milwaukee Bucks could certainly do far worse.
Even after trading all of that, the Heat could still have a decent roster that could make some noise in the league. It's well-documented that Giannis and Heat All-Star Bam Adebayo share the same agent, Alex Saratsis, and have a bond. They'd be a formidable one-two punch and would have a built-in third fiddle with Norman Powell, who is having an All-Star season.
It's worth noting that Miami isn't the only franchise with this luxury. Another is the San Antonio Spurs, who could potentially blow every other team out of the water with a Giannis trade offer if they desired. In addition to being able to offer a treasure chest full of assets, they have captivating young players such as Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper who could be centerpieces. Yet, their interest level is unclear.
That's basically the case for the entire league right now. Every team would love to get their hands on Giannis Antetokounmpo, but how much are they willing to give away in a trade? The Bucks would work with Giannis on a trade, in all likelihood, but they wouldn't take less just to make him happy. These next few weeks will be fascinating as Giannis ponders his future in Milwaukee.
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