Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of divorce. Antetokounmpo still has a chance to return to Milwaukee; However, the organization reportedly wants a solution before the 2026 NBA Draft. In a scenario where the NBA wants to trade the superstar from the Bucks, he would likely have a new home for the 2026-27 NBA season
This seems like a real possibility, so what will it really take for Antetokounmpo to land in Miami? Here's what needs to happen for the Miami Heat.
Giannis Antetokounmpo should request a trade with Miami as a destination
It all starts with Antetokounmpo. If the Heat want to make one of their best moves in the last 16 years, the Bucks forward will have to request a trade this summer. In fact, Antetokounmpo would need to list Miami as one of his preferred trade destinations to do so.
There will be a long list of teams looking to acquire Antetokounmpo during the 2026 NBA offseason, so the Heat need to add him. This doesn't mean Antetokounmpo has to say it's "Miami and only Miami," but an organization will only trade for him with the assurance that it will end well.
For Antetokounmpo to leave Milwaukee, he'll need a landing spot that makes him happy. The Heat are one of those destinations, while other teams like the New York Knicks also make sense. Either way, Miami needs Antetokounmpo to keep an eye on the organization this summer.
If so, the onus falls on Pat Riley and the Heat front office to ultimately bring another superstar to Miami.
The Miami Heat absolutely need to trade for Antetokounmpo
One of the most popular stories about Miami over the years has been its reluctance to include certain players in potential trades. Several players have been involved in trade rumors since arriving in Miami, but the team has taken them out of the conversation to acquire difference makers. This has to be changed now.
The Heat should absolutely trade for Antetokounmpo this summer. Bam Adebayo should really be the only player over the limit; However, everyone else needs to be at the table. This includes Tyler Herro and Kyle Ware, as both players would be interesting for Milwaukee in the post-Antetokounmpo era.
Miami would also include all of its draft selections in this scenario. Needless to say, the Heat will have to give up most, if not all, of their assets. When a player like Antetokounmpo is on the market, this is the most likely outcome for a team looking to make an NBA Finals appearance.
The Heat will build their team around Adebayo and Antetokounmpo, which should be enough to get them back into contention if everyone stays healthy. The only issue is that many other NBA organizations will feel the same way. Antetokounmpo will put them over the top.
So, if Miami is Antetokounmpo's preferred destination, it's time for Riley and the front office to push all of their chips into the middle of the table.
Read more: Miami's summer is over – why big off-season changes are coming
