It took six years.
To get here, it took whiffing on Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant (twice), Kyrie Irving (twice), James Harden, Bradley Beal (twice), Chris Paul, DeMar DeRozan and, yes, even Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Yet, with a midnight blockbuster Monday, June 22 that ships Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, team president Pat Riley proved, once again, that he can deliver a hoops wonder to Bayside. And with that, he appeased a fan base that had started to grumble and wonder if it was time for him to step down. Now, the hard work begins.
Make no mistake: this move triggers immense pressure. With Antetokounmpo in the fold, the expectation becomes that Miami is to compete for championships.
There’s precedent for that, too.
Since Riley took over the franchise, each acquisition of a legitimate superstar in their prime – from Shaquille O’Neal in 2004, to LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010, to Jimmy Butler in 2019 – has produced trips to the NBA Finals, at a minimum.
Those moves delivered the franchise’s three championships, and Butler was the lone addition unable to win a title.
So, does this make the Heat the favorites to win the Eastern Conference next season?
No, at least not yet.
Antetokounmpo, provided he stays healthy, makes Miami far more dangerous than it would’ve been under its previous roster construction. But does he catapult the Heat over the Knicks? Or a healthy Pacers or Celtics?
Antetokounmpo shrinks the gap, certainly, but the retooled roster still has massive holes.
For one, the Heat desperately need shooting.
Norman Powell, the 2026 All-Star shooting guard, is an unrestricted free agent, and the Heat would love to re-sign him. He’s a career 39.6% 3-point shooter, and Antetokounmpo’s gravity would only help create more space for him. But even if Miami is able to swing his return – Powell was spotted back in the building in early May so there may be mutual interest – the Heat will still need to add reliable snipers along the perimeter. They’ll have to do it on the cheap, too.
After all, the Heat did gut their roster somewhat, so they’ll have to replenish depth, especially at point guard and center, where Kasparas Jakučionis and Kel’el Ware were primed to improve.
The Heat will need Andrew Wiggins to decline his $30.2 million player option, with the hopes that he re-signs on a friendlier arrangement to open up cap space. Because if there’s one thing the last two NBA champions have proved, it’s that depth is essential, particularly if injuries mount.
Miami will also need coach Erik Spoelstra, widely considered one of the premier minds in the sport, to get in the lab and cook up a scheme that highlights Antetokounmpo’s transition offense and passing ability. He will have to find ways to expand captain Bam Adebayo’s portfolio.
The Heat project to be an exceptional defensive team; Adebayo and Antetokounmpo instantly become the top rim-protecting duo in the conference, and players like Wiggins, Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, Pelle Larsson and Bobby Portis – also acquired in the Bucks trade – embody grit and defensive toughness.
That should help against explosive offensive teams like the Knicks and Celtics. The task, however, will be to score consistently, especially off of jumpshots.
Because Boston’s failed pursuit of Antetokounmpo proves president of basketball ops Brad Stevens grasps just how aggressive he needs to be to maintain Boston’s competitive edge. Put another way: just because the Celtics missed out on Antetokounmpo doesn’t mean they won’t relentlessly try to improve their roster. Expect them to be active in the coming weeks.
The Knicks launched a well-deserved celebration, but they’re built for cohesion and consistency.
"He keeps demanding that I land a whale," Riley told the LeBatard Show in February during the Miami Heat Gala when asked about Heat owner Mickey Arison. "I might be out there looking, but I got a guy in the chair back there with a big harpoon and that’s (executive vice president of basketball operations) Andy Ellisburg.
"And once I identify it, he goes schoooop," Riley continued, while arcing his hand in a fishing motion.
Riley and Ellisburg caught the one that had long eluded them, but the job is not done. Not close to it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Are Heat the team to beat in East after Giannis Antetokounmpo trade?
