The Miami Heat always tries to land superstar players. They view themselves as a premier destination for players in free agency and in trades. After not making the playoffs, Pat Riley is determined to keep winning games without tanking.
This offseason, the biggest trade target in the NBA will be Giannis Antetokounmpo. His time with the Bucks is likely coming to an end after a tumultuous season that ended with him feuding with the team over playing time. He is likely playing somewhere else next season.
Miami will certainly try to trade for him. Bleacher Report gave an interesting prediction regarding their chances of landing him.
GettyMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Miami Heat Predicted to Land Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Trade
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report is predicting that the Heat will land Antetokounmpo in a trade.
“Antetokounmpo’s on-court approach feels perfectly aligned with the way Miami’s organization operates. Again, he’d be a fit anywhere he landed, but this just feels like a match made in relentlessly competitive heaven,” Buckley wrote.
Miami already tried to trade for Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline. Ultimately, Milwaukee decided to hold on to him. The Miami Heat did have an offer that they seriously considered, which might give them some hope of actually being able to pull off a trade in the offseason.
In order to land him, the Heat will have to outbid several teams. The Warriors, Rockets, and Nets will all likely make offers for Antetokounmpo. There’s even a chance the Spurs or the Thunder decide to make an offer, although both teams are already stacked without him.
If the Heat are going to snag Antetokounmpo, it will likely cost them plenty. Tyler Herro is going to have to be the centerpiece of the trade, as Riley has already explained they will not be trading Bam Adebayo. Surrounding other solid pieces around a package centered around Herro is the key.
GettyMiami Heat center Bam Adebayo runs down the court. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
The Heat Will Try to Bring in a Superstar
If the Heat aren’t able to bring in Antetokounmpo, they will pivot to going after a different superstar player. There are a few prominent players who could be available this summer after their teams had disappointing finishes. Miami will pursue those players if Antetokounmpo goes somewhere else.
Kawhi Leonard will be someone Miami looks at if Antetokounmpo is traded to another team. There could be some other stars who become available once the playoffs end, especially if they are eliminated early in the playoffs. That could be the case for both the Knicks and Cavaliers’ rosters.
The Miami Heat finished this past season with the 14th-best defense in the league. They also had just the 12th-best offense. Those middling stats are something that Miami is trying to fix heading into next year. Antetokounmpo would certainly help both of those stats, as he’s still one of the best players in the league when he is healthy.
Miami Heat Receives Surprising Giannis Antetokounmpo Prediction