The Miami Heat finally landed their white whale. In a stunning move, Miami traded for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, sending over picks, as well as players like Tyler Herro and Jaime Jaquez Jr. With that trade, Miami is sending a clear message: they’re here to compete.
Which other teams were the Heat competing for, though? Well, Chris Haynes revealed that aside from the Heat, the two other teams that were in the running to land Giannis were the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Boston Celtics.
“Sources: The 3 teams Giannis was open to signing an extension with: Miami, Boston and Minnesota,” Haynes reported. “The Heat land a foundational piece and now have the attention of top players searching for a new home.”
Antetokounmpo’s trade saga had been going on since last season, when the Bucks’ disastrous 2025-26 campaign led to the star requesting a trade. Even before this offseaon, Miami was considered as one of the frontrunners to land the former MVP and champion. With one of the most aggressive front offices in the league, an underrated young core with many potential trade pieces, and Tyler Herro as the centerpiece of a deal, Miami’s offer was always going to be hard to top.
While the Giannis trade is the first step towards contention, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done in order to make this team a contender. The Antetokounmpo trade gutted the Heat’s roster, leaving them with virtually zero depth. Despite that, Giannis accepted this trade with understanding that Pat Riley and the Miami front office will be able to find pieces to surround their new core.
As for Antetokounmpo, this will be the first time that the star forward will play for a new team. Drafted by the Bucks back in 2013, there was once a point where it felt like Giannis would be the next Dirk: a star that would stay on the team until the end. However, the allure of contending with the Heat was just too much to ignore, it seems.
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