The Miami Heat didn’t just make a splash at the start of the offseason - they landed the biggest name on the board.
On June 22, Miami completed a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 10-time All-Star and two-time MVP who had also drawn interest from the Boston Celtics. A Monday afternoon press release made the move official, and the Heat didn’t stop there: Bobby Portis Jr. is headed to Miami as well.
“Your Miami Heat announced today that they have acquired NBA Champion, Two-Time NBA MVP and 10-time NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and NBA Champion Bobby Portis Jr. from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, the NBA Draft rights to 2026 1st round pick Nate Ament, two first round picks (2031 & 2033), a 2030 first round pick swap and a 2033 second round pick,” the press release stated.
Heat President Pat Riley called it a franchise-altering move.
“The announcement of today’s trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis Jr. is one of the great trades in Heat history,” Riley said. “In my opinion, Giannis is one of the top five players in the league, and Bobby is one of the best power forwards. The difficult part is trading Tyler, Kasparas, Jaime and Kel’el who have given so much to this organization, we wish them nothing but the best.”
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Boston had made a push of its own, with an offer that would have sent Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks to Milwaukee for Antetokounmpo. The Bucks wanted more, and Miami’s willingness to part with a heavier package - including Herro, Jaquez, Ware, Jakucionis and a haul of draft assets - got the deal done.
Antetokounmpo spent the first 13 seasons of his career in Milwaukee and leaves with a résumé that speaks for itself: 895 games, 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. He powered the Bucks to the 2021 championship and took home Finals MVP honors in the process.
For Miami, the message is clear. This is a team expecting to chase titles with Antetokounmpo at the center of it.
In Other News...
Heat May Have Found The Exact Guard This Giannis Build Needs
The Heat have spent the early part of summer looking for more guard help around Giannis Antetokounmpo, and two rookies have already made a strong first impression in Las Vegas. Ryan Conwell and Jahmir Young each put up 19 points in their Summer League debuts, giving Miami a pair of backcourt options that fit the kind of developmental lane the franchise has long embraced.
Youngs path is especially worth watching because Miami has already moved him from a two-way deal to a standard contract, a sign the organization sees something worth keeping close. With roster flexibility still on hand and the Heats track record of turning undrafted players into real rotation pieces, there is at least a plausible opening for one or both guards to stick if they keep building on what they showed in Vegas. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Herro Saw The End Coming Before His Heat Exit Got Messier
Tyler Herros Heat tenure ended with plenty of noise, and the guard addressed the move this week in Las Vegas during NBA Summer League as he settled into life with the Milwaukee Bucks. The transition has given him a fresh start with his hometown team, a change of scenery that carries a different kind of meaning than a routine offseason deal.
Herro said he had been bracing for a move all summer, which made the eventual trade less of a shock than a confirmation of what he already sensed was coming. Even with the change in uniform, the backdrop around his exit still lingers, especially after the summer basketball incident involving former teammate Bam Adebayo added another layer to an already messy ending. [Read more 🡒]