The NBA trade deadline is a week away nad Giannis Antetokounmpo is the biggest name in the rumor mill. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Milwaukee Bucks have started entertaining trade offers for the two-time MVP, with a potential deal looming before the Feb. 5 deadline or later in the offseason.
NBA analyst Zach Lowe explained which team he believes would be an ideal fit for Antetokounmpo if a trade were to materialize.
NBA Analyst Zach Lowe Believes Giannis Antetokounmpo Fits Perfectly With Miami Heat
On “The Zach Lowe Show,” the insider said he believes the Miami Heat is a team where Antetokounmpo could realistically land in the near future. Similar to the Bucks, the Heat have struggled to climb the Eastern Conference standings and could look to address that by acquiring a superstar.
Lowe also outlined how a lineup built around Antetokounmpo could function in Miami. However, he acknowledged the Heat could face salary-cap challenges if they pursued a trade for the Greek star
“Which brings me to the most interesting team, and that’s Miami,” Lowe said. “Starting five would be (Davion) Mitchell, (Norman) Powell, (Pelle) Larsson, Giannis, and Bam (Adebayo). They share the same agents (Antetokounmpo and Adebayo) and are great basketball players, and they would make a fit work better than on paper.
However, the insider also raised questions about the team’s financial flexibility, saying the Heat would carry about $145 million in salary next season if they executed such a trade, not including Powell’s extension. Lowe added that while the Heat would still have the mid-level exception, the following summer could leave them with only Antetokounmpo and Adebayo under contract and cap space to pursue another star.
He said team president Pat Riley has experience navigating such situations and pointed to Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell’s upcoming free agency as a potential opportunity.
Zach Lowe full breakdown on why the Miami Heat are the most interesting team for Giannis 👀
“Starting 5 would be Mitchell, Powell, Larsson, Giannis, and Bam. They share the same agents and are great basketball players and they would make a fit work better than on paper… Big… pic.twitter.com/NCurJGCWUk
— Heat Central (@HeatCulture13) January 29, 2026
As Charania reported, trade discussions involving Antetokounmpo could extend beyond the Feb. 5 deadline and into the offseason, when rival teams would have access to additional draft capital. Antetokounmpo is expected to be sidelined for the next month after suffering a right calf strain in Friday’s home loss to the Denver Nuggets.
