The NBA trade deadline is heating up, with Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future still unknown beyond today. A few NBA teams have aggressively pursued trade packages for the two-time MVP, and one NBA insider has revealed that one of them isn’t a realistic option for the Milwaukee Bucks star.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Not Going to the West?
Speaking on ESPN’s “Get Up show,” Brian Windhorst said, “I’ve been at 51-49 against a trade. I’m now at 60-40. Minnesota is still out there, but I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think their offer was as good as Golden State’s.”
“If Golden State’s offer wasn’t good enough, I don’t think MIN is realistic. That leaves Miami.”
The Minnesota Timberwolves made multiple core veterans, including Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert. A trade to satisfy Milwaukee would need to include at least three of those players and a significant amount of draft capital to build for the future.
Right now, the Wolves can only offer the Bucks a 2028 first-round pick swap, which is nothing compared to the Warriors’ four first-round picks. Earlier this week, the Wolves moved Mike Conley and a 2026 pick swap to drop their tax bill from $24 million to $3.8 million, creating the financial “breathing room” to absorb Giannis’s contract.
However, it’s now understood that, like the Warriors, the Timberwolves’ aggressive pursuit of Antetokounmpo has ended for now. If he isn’t traded tonight, neutral NBA fans can still hope for a modern-day Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant partnership in the summer.
Don’t get your hopes up just yet, Windhorst revealed one team could have all the right pieces to lure Antetokounmpo away before this afternoon. He added, “Miami is making a player and semi-draft pick offer, it’s a decent offer…. Unless there’s a secret thing going on, I’m not feeling Giannis moving right now.”
MORE: Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors: Insider Pours Cold Water on Bucks Star’s Potential Exit
The Heat could satisfy Milwaukee with young stars, experience, first-round picks, and pick swaps for the ‘Greek Freak.’ Kel’el Ware is seen as a long-term Brook Lopez replacement, joining 2025 All-Star Tyler Herro, veteran Terry Rozier, and a young piece like Jaime Jaquez Jr to round out the players.
The Heat also plans to offer 2030 and 2032 first-round picks, plus pick swaps in 2026,2029, and 2031. Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo would be the scariest front court in the league, especially as they actively pursue a lock-in playoff spot. Miami is currently seventh in the Eastern Conference, three games behind the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers, who are sixth and fifth, respectively.
Should Antetokounmpo stay in Milwaukee until the off-season, or could a move to the Heat spark their playoff ambitions?
