Step one of appeasing Giannis Antetokounmpo is complete, as he is set to fully participate in the Greece national team’s EuroBasket 2025 exploits this summer.
But while Antetokounmpo’s focus at the moment is trained fully on international play, his future with the Milwaukee Bucks organization remains shrouded in uncertainty.
Antetokounmpo has three years remaining on his current contract (with a player option for the 2027-28 campaign), but he has made known his desire to win another championship. And the possibility of him doing so outside the Badger State remains in play.
Antetokounmpo to the Heat? It’s worth considering, given the return
In the case that the Bucks decide to make Antetokounmpo available for trade, dozens of teams across the league will likely field calls with Milwaukee’s front office. Bleacher Report’s Zach Beckley proposed that the Miami Heat will be among those interested in landing him.
A deal of this nature, however, could come at a great cost to the Heat’s depth. Such a trade, according to Beckley, would require Miami to part ways with Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Terry Rozier and two first-round draft picks (in 2030 and 2032) in exchange for Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. It would also involve a swap of 2031 first-round picks.
“After keeping Ware out of the Kevin Durant trade talks, the Heat would clearly need a superstar to let their second-year center go. Since they also have a clear (and longstanding) fascination with Antetokounmpo — which, to be fair, most teams do — it might take a megatrade with Milwaukee to get Ware out of Miami,” Buckley wrote.
“Ware looks like a legitimate building block, Jaquez would’ve been considered as such as recently as last summer and Herro just booked his first All-Star season as a 25-year-old. Add the draft picks here, and that feels like enough for the Heat to at least entertain dreams of adding Antetokounmpo, whose resume features a couple of MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year honor and a Finals MVP.”
As things currently stand, there is no indication that the Bucks are even considering trade offers from other teams for Antetokounmpo’s services. But rumors about his potential departure from the organization will only continue to heat up until a firm decision about his future is made.