Is Giannis Antetokounmpo To Miami Heat Now Just A Formality?

The free agency period is three weeks away but should Miami Heat fans already start celebrating? 

If you go by media reports, the Heat have already landed Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. It seems every reputable NBA insider has the two-time MVP joining forces with Adebayo in Miami. 

Grant Liffmann of NBC Sports recently said Antetokounmpo to Miami is the best option. 

“Miami makes the most sense still," Liffmann said. "Just in terms of swaps, the three firsts (picks), a couple young players. Probably makes the most sense in that regard — I do think he’ll end up with a team that blends young players but probably more picks and that’s why my gut still says Miami but you never know.”

Add Liffman to the long list of insiders who have Antetokounmpo going to Miami. From Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report/TNT to The Ringer's Bill Simmons to ESPN's Shams Charania, everyone seems to think this is a done deal. 

Of course, Heat fans have been here before. A few years ago, many felt the same about Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell. A Lillard deal never materialized while Mitchell wound up being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Still, a move for Antetokounmpo is being back harder by the media. 

“Before, if you would have asked me this a week ago, I would have said Miami," Haynes said on the Kevin O'Connor podcast. "... I just felt like this was the year that they really had to go for it all and get a big fish. And when I'm talking about a big fish, I'm talking about Giannis Antetokounmpo.”

If it happens, expect the Heat to receive plenty of attention in the preseason predictions. A trio of Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo and Norman Powell Jr., puts them among the list of championship contenders. 

It would almost certainly avoid a repeat of this season when the Heat missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019. 

MORE HEAT NEWS 

Could Heat bring in two superstars this summer? 

Tyler Herro's wife speaks on trade speculation? 

Victor Wembanyama needs to rally in Finals to catch Dwyane Wade 

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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at [email protected]