By Gabe Smallson
Copyright newsweek
The NBA offseason has been dominated by trade rumors from some of the league’s brightest stars, and the uncertainty surrounding nine-time All-NBA Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was perhaps the biggest storyline.
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The Miami Heat have long been linked to the Greek Freak, but with Antetokounmpo never becoming available, a deal didn’t come to fruition.
According to The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson, however, the framework of a deal from the Heat should Antetokounmpo have requested to leave Wisconsin has been revealed.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 18: Bam Adebayo #13, Tyler Herro #14 and Kel’el Ware #7 of the Miami Heat react against the Atlanta Hawks during the third quarter of an NBA play-in tournament game on April 18, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“If Antetokounmpo had asked out, the Heat was prepared to make an offer that did not include Bam Adebayo, according to a source,” wrote Jackson. “But it’s unlikely any such offer would have been seriously considered.”
Although Adebayo would carry significant weight in a would-be deal, Jackson continued to note that he may also be part of the draw of a potential deal if Antetokounmpo ever wanted to switch teams.
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“If Antetokounmpo requests a trade at some point, it remains to be seen if the Heat would ever change its mind about offering Adebayo,” Jackson noted. “But it’s unlikely that the Bucks star would want to join a Heat team without Adebayo, with whom he shares an agent. So it’s all likely moot.”
The Miami Heat were prepared to offer the Milwaukee Bucks a trade package for Giannis Antetokounmpo that did not include Bam Adebayo, per @flasportsbuzz “If Antetokounmpo had asked out, the Heat was prepared to make an offer that did not include Bam Adebayo, according to a… pic.twitter.com/u6lPRFfjIw— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 7, 2025
The Heat were long linked to Antetokounmpo, but after the dramatic offseason, he looks to be staying put in Milwaukee.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier this month that Antetokounmpo did discuss his future with Bucks management, but the only team that wasn’t his current one that was discussed was the New York Knicks. New York made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and has bolstered its bench with seasoned veterans over the summer. The Knicks also swapped in Mike Brown for former head coach Tom Thibodeau. Brown is expected to help add some new wrinkles to New York’s offensive attack.
If the Heat pursued a trade for Antetokounmpo, it would likely include a slew of draft picks, All-Star guard Tyler Herro, small forward Andrew Wiggins, and rising center Kel’el Ware to start. If the Greek Freak were to become a member of the Heat, the best bet would be hoping he opts out of his player option ahead of the 2027-28 campaign.
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