\u25aa The Heat is prepared to give Antetokounmpo an extension and is operating with the belief that it would be able to keep him beyond this season; he has a player option for 2027-28. That\u2019s why the team is willing to open its full cupboard of assets, Adebayo aside.<\/p>\n
But the Athletic reported that while Antetokounmpo \u201cremains both intrigued and impressed with the organization\u2019s winning culture…. the thing that is known to be a concern for Antetokounmpo, is this: Could the Heat truly contend anytime soon if they have to gut their roster to get him?\u201d<\/p>\n
An executive with one of the teams linked to Antetokounmpo said Tuesday night that he believes Antetokounmpo would commit long-term to the Heat, Knicks, Boston or Orlando if any of those four teams acquire him, while not ruling out the possibility of another team or two that might surface.<\/p>\n
That executive said of those teams, he\u2019s not sure that the Celtics even want him and the executive expects the Knicks will not pursue Antetokounmpo after their Finals appearance.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s unknown is what teams have both the willingness and ability to make an offer that the Bucks consider more appealing than the Heat\u2019s. There have been bread crumbs and clues about several suitors, but very little information that\u2019s credible and definitive.<\/p>\n
There have also been conflicting reports about the level of interest around the league beyond the Heat, Magic and Trail Blazers. Longtime sports personality Ryen Russillo, formerly of ESPN, said the market for the Bucks superstar is \u201cbeing described as \u2018lukewarm\u2019 by many people that would know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other suitors<\/p>\n
With Ware resuming offseason workouts on the Heat\u2019s practice court this week, here\u2019s an update on what has been reported by mainstream outlets and established NBA reporters about other potential suitors:<\/p>\n
\u25aa Orlando has emerged as a potential threat to the Heat after hiring a head coach (Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney) with whom Antetokounmpo is close; Sweeney previously worked for the Bucks and worked out Antetokounmpo during summers in Greece.<\/p>\n
The Magic likely would need to offer Paolo Banchero, a former All-Star who is eight years younger. A package built around Franz Wagner and the Magic\u2019s one tradable first-round pick would not seem enticing enough.<\/p>\n
Beyond the Sweeney connection, the Magic\u2019s current president of basketball operations, Jeff Weltman, was a former Bucks assistant GM and speaks regularly with senior advisor John Hammond, the former Bucks GM who drafted Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n
And that \u201chas only increased league curiosity about the Magic\u2019s appetite to join the team widely perceived to be a leading contender in the Giannis Trade Sweepstakes \u2014 Orlando\u2019s fellow Floridians on South Beach \u2014 in the chase for No. 34,\u201d longtime NBA writer Marc Stein wrote on Substack.<\/p>\n
\u25aa After initial speculation that Boston could try to acquire the two-time MVP, longtime NBA reporter Chris Haynes \u2014 who has connections with the Antetokounmpo camp \u2014 said he has not heard that the Celtics are in the mix.<\/p>\n
The Ringer\u2019s Bill Simmons said he doesn\u2019t believe the Celtics are involved. Longtime Celtics reporter Steve Bulpett said there has been no direct contact between the Celtics and Bucks.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Portland is interested in Antetokounmpo, according to Haynes and Stein.<\/p>\n
The Blazers could make a more attractive offer for Antetokounmpo than the Heat in part because they control much of the Bucks\u2019 draft future. The Damian Lillard trade gave Portland the right to swap picks with the Bucks in 2028, 2029 and 2030, with Boston also involved in that complicated permutation.<\/p>\n
The Blazers also have appealing young players in Scoot Henderson, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara and Orlando\u2019s unprotected 2028 first-round pick. But the risk of Antetokounmpo leaving after one season might be too great for Portland.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Portland possibility, which has become such a focal point, is, per league sources, unlikely given Antetokounmpo\u2019s preference to play in the East,\u201d The Athletic\u2019s Sam Amick and Eric Nehm reported Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Houston, which was initially mentioned as an Antetokounmpo suitor, has not pursued him to this point. Who knows if that changes?<\/p>\n
\u25aa While ESPN said the Cavaliers might pursue Antetokounmpo, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported this week that \u201cmultiple Cavs executives would oppose\u201d trading Evan Mobley for the Bucks star. The inclusion of Mobley would be Cleveland\u2019s only realistic pathway to a deal.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The Lakers have consistently been downplayed as a contender for Antetokounmpo in recent weeks. So have the Warriors, with multiple outlets reporting that they\u2019re less inclined to go big-game hunting this offseason.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Minnesota reportedly could make another run, but their assets didn\u2019t particularly appeal to the Bucks in February. And Antetokounmpo has spoken of his fondness for the sun and warm climates, which would raise skepticism about whether he would commit longterm to the Timberwolves.<\/p>\n
\u25aa The Knicks\u2019 motivation to pursue a trade could hinge largely on how they play in the Finals against the Spurs; the teams were unable to agree on terms in trade discussions last August. New York has always been identified as the Bucks star\u2019s No. 1 choice.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Speculation about OKC remains largely that \u2014 speculation, as opposed to sourced reports about interest in Antetokounmpo.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the Thunder\u2019s Game 7 loss to the Spurs, the Athletic\u2019s Amick reported: \u201cLeague sources have long maintained that Oklahoma City would not take part in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes that will dominate the summertime conversation, but this sort of stunning finish is enough to re-spark that conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n
If it happens with Miami…<\/p>\n
If the Heat gets Antetokounmpo, Miami must send out at least $46.5 million in salary to take on Antetokounmpo\u2019s $58.4 million.<\/p>\n
Numerous hypothetical packages of players would satisfy cap rules \u2014 including Ware, Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson and Dru Smith or Ware, Herro, Jaquez and Nikola Jovic.<\/p>\n
If the Heat acquires Antetokounmpo, Miami might be able to re-sign impending free agent Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins (who has a $30 million player option) and use the full $15.5 million mid-level exception if both players take slight pay cuts in the first year of potential multi-year deals and if the Heat is willing to spend above the $201 million tax line but below the $209 million first apron.<\/p>\n
This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 2:08 PM.<\/p>\n
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