The Miami Heat would have to give up plenty in proposed trade for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo
With the Miami Heat failing to move up in the NBA Draft Lottery on Sunday, it appears now they will have to a big splash in free agency this summer to improve the roster.
The Heat grabbed the expected No. 13 spot in the draft despite have a one percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick and 4.8 chance of selecting in the top four. Now, the attention turns to the offseason.
The free agency period begins July 1.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is among the biggest stars on the market this summer. While he isn't a free agent, the Heat could make a trade proposal for the two-time MVP and one-time NBA champion.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Heat are one of the teams with enough to make a play for Antetokounmpo.
Here's what the outlet wrote: “The Heat would likely dangle Whitnall High School alumnus and All-Star Tyler Herro and his $33 million expiring contract while the Bucks would probably also require at least center Kel'el Ware (22) and point guard Kasparas Jakucionis (20), along with a combination of Heat first-round picks in 2026 and 2029–2033.”
It would be tough parting ways with Herro, Ware and Jakucionis because they have all been key cogs. Herro is a one-time All-Star and won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2023. Ware is continuing to improve while Jakucionis showed progress this season as a rookie.
Their departures would still leave the Heat with a core of Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell and Antetokounmpo. That could be enough to make them an Eastern Conference contender.
Regardless, the Heat are expecting an active pursuit of more talent during free agency. Team president Pat Riley expressed that during his end-of-the-season press conference.
"We finally made a decision it was better to keep our young players, our draft capital and to get [Andrew Wiggins] and [Davion Mitchell], Kyle Anderson and a first, which were four different assets that could complement Tyler, Bam, etc," Riley said. "And then in the summer when we did the Duncan deal, we got a trade exception out of it. We still got it. And we got Norman Powell ... Now we have more flexibility. We got more assets."
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Shandel Richardson is the publisher of HeatRoundtable. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com