Giannis Antetokounmpo shatters the Miami Heat's star pursuit, reaffirming unwavering loyalty. They must now pivot to more attainable targets as the trade deadline looms.
As the trade deadline is less than a month away, one All-Star already broke news, as Trae Young has reportedly been traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. To everyone's surprise, there were no picks involved in the deal. There's no telling whether the four-time All-Star will make his debut with the nation's capital franchise, given his lingering right quad contusion and lottery pick position. However, it's an exciting new chapter for an organization that desperately needed a book office player.
It may or may not affect the standings within the Southeast Division, which involves the Miami Heat. They and the Hawks are currently three games apart in the Eastern Conference standings, both within the Play-In Tournament bracket. The Heat is known to target stars, especially during this time of the season, but what was the franchise's dream has been dismantled. It's no secret that the organization wanted to go after Milwaukee Bucks' superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, the 31-year-old responded to recent rumors, setting the record straight.
"There will never be a chance," he said. "There will never be a moment that I will come out and say, 'want a trade.' I am invested in this team."
The Bucks currently have a 16-21 record, 11th in the Eastern Conference. The nine-time All-Star is averaging 29.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 5.5 assists while shooting 64.5 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from three-point range. He's only appeared in 23 games thus far, dealing with lower leg injuries. Given the Bucks' underachievement, there were speculations about the former Finals MVP requesting a trade in one fashion or another.
However, that's no longer the case, says the source himself.
It's good for the Heat to know the truth rather than linger in delusion. If Giannis hadn't made his recent remarks, the organization would've worked around the thought of him being potentially available. They can shift towards more realistic candidates. It's worth noting that the Heat recently fully guaranteed Terry Rozier's $26.6 million salary for the season. As the 31-year-old continues to go through the legal process, allegedly involved in illegal sports betting, the front office is operating as if his contract can be traded, despite hardly receiving any clarity from the league.
There are some notable candidates, such as Anthony Davis, Khris Middleton, DeMar DeRozan, and Jonathan Kuminga. The trade deadline is on Feb. 6th, so business is open until then.
Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our RoundTable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
More Miami Heat News: