Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Miami Heat? Here’s how Miami could pull off the trade

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

giannis antetokounmpo
Sam Navarro-Imagen Images

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

NBA: Milwaukee Bucks at Miami Heat
Sam Navarro-Imagen Images

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

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Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

#Giannis #Antetokounmpo #Miami #Heat #Heres #Miami #pull #trade

EVIL’s WWE NXT ring name revealed: Here’s what it means

A week after his NXT debut, the ring name former NJPW star EVIL will use in WWE has been revealed. According to Fightful Select, he is expected to move to NXT under the name Nox Raijin. WWE filed a trademark for the name on April 28, the same day he debuted on the brand.

The “Raijin” part of the name holds a specific meaning, referring to the Japanese god of thunder and lightning. It appears that WWE is creating a character based on both his Japanese origins and the heel persona he developed during his NJPW run. EVIL is currently listed internally under his real name, Takaaki Watanabe, while branding is finalized.

His debut on the April 28 episode of NXT saw him take on NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo in a no-name match. Commentator Vic Joseph identified him as the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion and deliberately used the phrase “pure evil” during the segment.

evil
Credit: WWE

The beginning followed weeks of production in which D’Angelo received a mysterious gift containing the Japanese symbol for war, a piece of foreshadowing that directly pointed to the arrival of EVIL.

EVIL left NJPW in January after more than a decade with the promotion, during which he served as the leader of House of Torture and was previously a member of Los Ingobernables de Japon. His signing was confirmed by PWInsider in late April.

Fightful Select also reports that another former LIJ member, Hiromu Takahashi, who finished with NJPW in February, remains a name to watch in terms of potential WWE signings.

#EVILs #WWE #NXT #ring #revealed #Heres #means

19-year-old Kimi Antonelli is the Formula 1 championship leader. Here’s how he got there

It took Kimi Antonelli 19 years, six months and 25 days to become the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to lead the world championship. He did so three weeks earlier at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. He arrived in Miami this weekend and is still on top.

Let that sink in for a second.

In three races in 2026, the child from Bologna has two wins, two pole positions and 72 points. He is nine points ahead of his teammate George Russell. The record he broke belonged to Lewis Hamilton – the man whose seat he took in the Mercedes. Hamilton led the championship for the first time at the age of 22. Antonelli did this at the age of 19. It’s not close.

WATCH: Miami Grand Prix, exclusively this Sunday on Apple TV+! Check it out!

Getting to Know Kimi Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli Formula 1 Mercedes Miami Grand Prix

Andrea Kimi Antonelli grew up in Bologna, located in the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley – Ferrari, Lamborghini and Ducati are all built within an hour of his hometown. His father, Marco Antonelli, raced professionally and first got him into kart racing at the age of three. Mercedes found him at the age of just 12 and included him in their junior program.

Because he was such a good driver at a young age, Antonelli left Formula 3 altogether. He moved straight from the regional series to F2, where he became the youngest multiple race winner in the series’ history. When Hamilton announced he was leaving for Ferrari, Mercedes handed the seat to a teenager who had not yet taken his road test.

He passed it six weeks before his F1 debut.

Another thing to know: His name is not an homage to Kimi Raikkonen. A family friend suggested it because it matches phonetically well with Andrea Antonelli. He simply shares the name with a world champion. The similarities keep finding him, whether he wants them to or not.

Kimmy Antonelli’s hot start in 2026

2026 japanese grand prix formula 1
Credit: Formula 1

The season got off to a good start for Antonelli at the Australian Grand Prix as he had to retire early due to battery problems. He recovered, scored points and moved on. no play.

In Shanghai, Antonelli made a great debut and became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history. He then won and became the first Italian Grand Prix winner in 20 years since Giancarlo Fisichella won the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2006. Fisichella won that race five months before Antonelli was born.

“When you think that Kimi wasn’t even born when I won 20 years ago, it’s fantastic. I’m happy for him and proud of him,” Fisichella told F1.com. “To be honest, it’s been a long 20 years to see an Italian driver on the top step of the podium again. He’ll get the chance to do it again, not just once, but many times.”

Fast forward to the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix: Antonelli makes bad start. A wheelspin off the line dropped him from pole to sixth. A safety car on lap 22 saved no one – except Antonelli, who had not yet pitted and made the free stop into the lead. He fell nearly 14 seconds short of his second consecutive victory. After China, he held the distinction of being the youngest championship leader in F1 history.

Nothing seems normal about this right now. But, that’s fine for the game’s new superstar.

Why has Antonelli excelled despite F1 regulation glitch?

Kimi Antonelli F1 2026 Miami Grand Prix

The 2026 regulations are the biggest technical change F1 has seen in years. This included new power units, active aerodynamics, tires and fuel – it all changed at once. No one came into this season with any relevant experience. Each driver on the grid had to locate a completely new car from the start. It’s a mess, including early season amendments to these regulations.

Kishore was the first to discover this.

Yes, Mercedes has the best energy recovery system on the grid at the moment. The car is fast. But Antonelli is doing something with it that no one else is doing. Four-time champion Max Verstappen is buried in the standings. Reigning champion Lando Norris could not even start the first two races. Lewis Hamilton – with almost two decades in F1 – is fourth.

The 19 year old youth is leading the way. Without a doubt, this has been the story of this year so far.

Connected: Formula 1 emergency meeting: 6 rule changes by Miami that could fix the 2026 season

Antonelli’s 2026: comparison with other great young drivers

kmi antonelli mercedes formula 1
Barcelona Test, Steve Etherington

Sebastian Vettel won his first title at the age of 23. Verstappen won his first title at the age of 23. He is the youngest champion in F1 history. Antonelli is 19 years old and the season is three races old. Can he become the first teenager to win a driver’s championship? This is a distinct possibility.

The Vettel comparison comes up most often and is probably the best overall. Both operated major machinery. Both were composed well beyond their years. But Vettel had stable rules to work with. Antonelli is doing so amid maximum technical chaos, in his second full F1 season, on a car that didn’t exist eight months ago.

2026 Miami Grand Prix Coverage: Watch exclusive content on Apple TV+

“His whole demeanor is very refreshing,” said former Austrian driver and F1 executive Helmut Marko. “He was already incredibly fast everywhere in the junior categories, and it’s good to see a young driver like that coming to the fore.”

That’s part of what makes the comparison small – and the story big. Yes, it’s still early, but the gravity of what they’ve done so far isn’t lost on those who follow the game closely.

What to expect from Antonelli at the 2026 Miami Grand Prix

2026 miami grand prix

This weekend will be different. Not because of circuits or strategy or championship math. This is unique as Antonelli has never performed as the points leader on a race weekend. He has never walked into the Hard Rock Stadium paddock with a target on his back, in the loudest, most produced, most celebrity-saturated event on the F1 calendar.

The city is designed to be grand. The question is whether it overcomes him.

Through three races, the 19-year-old from Bologna, who passed his driver’s test six weeks before his F1 debut, is leading the world championship. He broke Lewis Hamilton’s record in his old seat. He is still finishing his high school exams between sessions.

Miami is about to find out what he’s made of.

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Here’s why the Devils are shutting down Luke Hughes early

The New Jersey Devils have announced that defenseman Luke Hughes will be shut down for the remainder of the season so he can undergo the process to begin his offseason rehabilitation early.

The 22-year-old blueliner has appeared in 68 games this season, recording six goals and 35 points.

Hughes suffered a shoulder injury on January 19 on the road against the Calgary Flames. In the second period, he tangled with Flames forward Justin Kirkland on the boards, dislocating his shoulder in the process. The injury took him out of the game shortly thereafter, placing him on long-term injured reserve.

A source confirmed that Hughes had surgery related to a shoulder injury.

At the time, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Hughes would not go under the knife to repair a shoulder injury.

“After consulting with doctors, Luke Hughes will not undergo surgery at this time and will instead rehabilitate his upper body injury.

“Devils placed Hughes on LTIR today; expected to sideline him during Olympic break [it’s to be determined]”

Hughes returned on February 28 against the St. Louis Blues – missing only 10 games with the Olympic break in between.

The Devils are officially out of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on Tuesday after losing to the Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It makes perfect sense for Hughes to begin his rehab as soon as possible, with a source also confirming that Hughes is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

The Devils will face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, with Simon Nemec set to take over No. 1 power play duties.

Dennis Cholowski is stepping into Hughes’ shoes on the blueline. No other recalls are expected at this time.

The Devils have four games remaining on their schedule for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

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Rangers eye summer reinforcements – officials sent to Portugal, here’s who it could be

zaidoo sanusi
zaidoo sanusi

Rangers are already working on summer recruitment plans, and this process recently took their scouting network to Portugal.

The Ibrox club remains in the race for the title in the Scottish Premiership. However, Celtic’s pursuit of Hearts has also highlighted a lack of depth in a number of areas Danny Rohl’s Squad. Injuries and rotation demands have forced the Rangers to rely heavily on a relatively small number of players throughout the season.

The midfield should be boosted by the expected return of Connor Barron in April. Nevertheless, planning for the next window continues behind the scenes. As a result, Rangers scouts were present at the Estadio do Dragão on Sunday to watch FC Porto face Moreranse.

As reported, the Scottish Premiership side was one of several clubs monitoring the match record. Representatives from Sevilla, Saint-Étienne, Alaves and Stuttgart were also in attendance.

The game proved straightforward for Porto, who secured a comfortable 3–0 victory at home.

Porto’s attacking talent attracts attention

Porto’s performance featured several standout performances in the eyes of Rangers and the local press highlighted several players.

midfielder Victor Froholdt Kept the tempo under control throughout the match. The Danish player provided two assists while setting up goals for Oskar Pietuszewski and William Gomes. His influence spread across the pitch, with strong involvement in transition and defensive work.

Pietuszewski also attracted attention. The Polish winger scored the second goal for Porto and has now scored three times in four matches. His pace and direct running caused constant problems for the Moreirense defence.

Despite conceding three goals, Moreense goalkeeper André Ferreira made six saves to keep the scoreline respectable for the visitors.

Meanwhile, their usual top performers did not rise to the occasion. Attacking midfielder Allen played as a striker and failed to perform. Young centre-back Diogo Travassos also had trouble stopping Porto’s efforts.

Despite strong performances, most of Porto’s standout players will likely sit beyond Rangers’ realistic transfer reach. The Portuguese giants regularly charge substantial fees for their leading talents.

Two experienced options could fit Rangers profile

ranger guys

However, if Rangers are indeed monitoring the game with recruitment in mind, the two players involved in the match may represent more sensible targets.

One is 28-year-old left-back Zaidu Sanusi. Sanusi started the match and played for 65 minutes before being substituted. Having spent several seasons at Porto and gaining experience of European competition, the Nigerian international offers athleticism and experience.

A natural attacking full-back, Sanusi provides pace down the flanks and defensive recovery pace. Those qualities may appeal to Rangers, especially given the physical demands of Scottish football.

Another interesting profile is that of 29-year-old holding midfielder Pablo Rosario.

Rosario entered the match in the 66th minute replacing Sanusi and Porto reshaped their formation. Operating centrally, he completed 24 of his 28 passes, a success rate of 86%. He was particularly secure in possession in deep areas, completing all nine of his passes in his own half. He also recovered the ball twice in the defensive zone.

Although neither player is one of Porto’s major stars, both bring experience and tactical reliability. For a Rangers side looking to strengthen squad depth while remaining financially disciplined, profiles like Sanusi and Rosario could represent sensible additions. danny rohl.

And with the summer drawing to a close, Rangers’ scouting presence in Portugal suggests the search is already well underway.

#Rangers #eye #summer #reinforcements #officials #Portugal #heres

Here’s what Los Angeles lost to the Suns, according to JJ Redick

The Los Angeles Lakers suffered their third consecutive loss after falling 113-110 to the Phoenix Suns on Thursday at the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Royce O’Neal was the unlikely hero for the depleted Suns, draining the game-winning three-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining.

The Lakers had a chance to send the game to overtime, but Austin Reaves missed his last-gasp attempt from deep. They fell to 34-24, while the Suns improved to 34-26.

Lakers coach JJ Redick once again cited a lack of defensive effort as a big factor in their latest loss, The Athletic’s Dan Woik reports.

“JJ Redick talked about the Lakers limiting their shooters not in terms of shots but in terms of attempts. The Suns took 50 (three-pointers). Said that’s the part that ‘hurt us a lot,'” Woik wrote on the X.

The Lakers shot a better 51% from the field compared to the Suns’ 46%. However, Phoenix had 11 more three-pointers, going 22 of 50 from long range.

Los Angeles is allowing 36.5 three-point attempts this season.

The Purple and Gold still failed to get the job done, even though Phoenix played without its top two scorers, Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks, due to injuries.

Since being hired by the Lakers last season, the 41-year-old Redick has repeatedly emphasized the importance of running backs on the defensive end. They are giving up 115.9 points on 48.7% shooting this season – both in the bottom half of the league.

The Lakers came back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to give them a win against the Suns.

Luka Doncic had a game-high 41 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists. Reeves and LeBron James combined for 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.

DeAndre Ayton had another disappointing game with two points and four rebounds.


#Heres #Los #Angeles #lost #Suns #Redick

Is Dwyane Wade the GOAT Miami star? Here’s what Pat Riley thinks

Although Pat Riley is best known for his impressive tenure as coach of the Lakers, he is equally synonymous with the success of the Miami Heat. Recently, the Lakers unveiled a statue honoring Riley’s contributions to the organization. During a sit-down conversation in Wade’s presence in Los Angeles on Sunday, Riley paid tribute to Wade for his career with Miami.

“He came in as a rookie… He was great. He was talented. He was talented… I’ve never seen a young guy work harder than Dwyane Wade to become one of the greatest players. Certainly the greatest player in Miami Heat history.”

Wade certainly earned the title of the greatest player in Heat history. He played with the organization from 2003 to 2016 before playing for the Bulls and Cavaliers. He then returned in 2018 and played with the team until his retirement in 2019. In that time, Wade won three NBA championships with the team, including his stellar performance in the 2006 NBA Finals. In the Heat’s historic comeback against the Mavericks, he averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He scored 40 points twice in that series: 42 points in Game 3 and 43 points in Game 4.

His greatness continued into the Big Three era, providing a high-powered tandem with LeBron James that ultimately won two more championships for the organization. With 13 NBA All-Star selections, 8 All-NBA selections, and the 2006 NBA Finals MVP award in his career, Dwyane Wade earned a spot on the NBA Top 75 Players list in 2021 and etched himself in Miami Heat history.


#Dwyane #Wade #GOAT #Miami #star #Heres #Pat #Riley #thinks

Here’s how the Devils’ Simon Nemec is the top defenseman in the Olympics

Calle Makar, Quinn Hughes, Miro Heiskanen, Roman Josi and Rasmus Dahlin are some of the best defensemen in the NHL. All play for their respective countries in the 2026 Winter Olympics, making them among the best blueliners in the world. And yet, during the preliminary rounds, none of them rank as top defenders in the offensive zone. That ranking goes to New Jersey Devils defenseman Simon Nemec.

This is correct. The 22-year-old blueliner was taken second overall in the 2022 NHL Draft and is proving to be an international phenomenon. After all, there’s a reason why the devils took him so high when he was only 18 years old.

Nemec’s exposure at the international level is nothing new. He scored one goal and nine points in eight games at the U18 World Juniors in 2022, leading Slovakia to the gold medal.

He has been a major contributor for Slovakia at all levels during the international game leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics, and he is continuing on that path this winter.

Slovakia was the biggest surprise among the winners of their group. Everyone expected Team USA and Team Canada to earn byes. A good performance was also expected from Finland. However, they were not expected to earn a bye as the best second-place team in the tournament. That’s because Slovakia ruined his and Sweden’s plans by winning Group B.

A lot of the oxygen around Slovakia is taken up by Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky.

Three goals and three assists in three games will do that for the 21-year-old Habs star.

However, where Slafkowski has dominated among the forwards, Nemec has been doing the same on the blueline.

His raw stats don’t jump off the page like Slafkowski’s with two assists in three games. However, according to Jeffres Viz HockeyStats, Nemec is the top chance-creating defenseman in the Olympics.

Through three games in the prelims, Nemec created an average of two scoring chances and made 3.7 chance assists for a total of 5.7 chance creation. This is 1.4 more chances than the next leading creator (Dahlin) in the tournament.

And the most interesting thing about Nemec’s success at the Olympic level is the competition she had to go through to do so. Sure, Slovakia beat Italy, but they also had to overcome Sweden and Finland, and Nemec had a lot to contribute to their success and earning a bye into the quarterfinals.

Nemec has been playing top pairing duties next to Washington Capitals defenseman, Martin Fehrvary. The Devils defenseman has taken on the responsibility as Slovakia’s No. 1 blueliner, averaging 22 minutes on ice per game.

The Devils will need to take some notes on how he has been unlocked in Milan and apply them when Nemec gets back to New Jersey as soon as possible.

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James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

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