Pat Riley didn’t hide from the cost of landing Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Miami Heat president made it clear the deal came with real pain, even if he believes the payoff is worth it.
The Heat sent Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and three first-round picks to the Milwaukee Bucks in the blockbuster trade. It was a massive haul for a superstar, and Riley acknowledged that giving up that much talent was not an easy call.
"We gave up a significant price. He’s worth it.
Period. That’s how I look at it.
Those are 3 very good young players. One has a lot of experience, but the other three are very good young players with huge upside.
We don’t have to figure out what this player's upside is. He may not even have maxed out yet," Riley said after Antetokounmpo's introductory press conference.
For Miami, the move fits a familiar pattern. The Heat have never been shy about making huge bets, and Riley has been in charge for plenty of them over the past three decades, including bringing in Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 and signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010.
This one, though, was driven by urgency as much as ambition. Miami had been stuck in mediocrity for a while, and swinging for a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber was the clearest way to try to change that.
The trade also brought Bobby Portis Jr. to Miami, and the Heat are betting that Antetokounmpo’s hunger will line up with theirs. It has been five years since he won a championship with the Bucks, and now he arrives in Miami with a fresh chance to chase another one.
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