Giannis traded to Miami Heat in blockbuster

The Greek Freak is taking his talents to South Beach.

The Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat in a blockbuster trade late Monday, according to ESPN, ending hours of speculation with Miami and the Celtics emerging as the finalists.

The Bucks also sent Bobby Portis to Miami in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, along with the No. 13 pick in tonight’s draft, a 2033 second-round pick and a pick swap in 2030, according to ESPN.

The Heat's title odds went from 30-1 (ninth shortest) Monday morning to 18-1 (fifth shortest) at DraftKings Sportsbook after news of the trade broke Monday night.

The Bucks are acquiring four players in their 20s in the deal. Herro, who grew up just outside Milwaukee and attended Whitnall High School in Greenfield, Wisconsin, made the All-Star team in 2025 and averaged 19.5 points per game over seven seasons with the Heat. The 26-year-old played just 33 games last season after undergoing surgery on his left foot in September.

Jaquez, 25, finished second on the Sixth Man of the Year ballot last season, after he averaged 15.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists over 75 games. Ware, 22, averaged 11.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, but the 7-footer was in and out of coach Erik Spoelstra's rotation. The 20-year-old Jakucionis was the No. 20 pick in last year's draft and averaged 6.2 points in 17.8 minutes per game.

After informing teams that the Bucks were open for business at the NBA draft combine in May, general manager Jon Horst landed a haul with the Heat's offer that brings high-level starting/rotation players and young talent as well as surplus draft capital.

The Bucks seriously negotiated with two finalists in recent weeks: the Heat and the Boston Celtics, who were both on Antetokounmpo's list of preferred destinations. The Celtics registered interest in Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline in February, and they aggressively pursued him this time around, offering Milwaukee a package featuring 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, according to sources.

An NBA Draft Eve Blockbuster

Bucks get:

Tyler Herro

Kel'el Ware

Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Kasparas Jakucionis

unprotected first-round pick in 2031

unprotected first-round pick in 2033

No. 13 pick in Tuesday's draft (pick will be made by Heat, since trade can't be officially completed until July 6)

pick swap in 2030

second-round pick in 2033

Heat get:

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Bobby Portis

The Bucks chose the Heat's offer to bring more flexibility and a big-picture approach with controlled contracts and long-term competitiveness for new coach Taylor Jenkins to imagine the next generation of Milwaukee -- versus a veteran, win-now, superstar-player-led package that places the immediate focus on the present. Horst and Heat general manager Andy Elisburg finalized the agreement Monday night.

Celtics president Brad Stevens has not actively shopped Brown in trade talks, sources said, but the franchise has now offered Brown twice for future Hall of Famers over the past four offseasons. In 2022, Brown was the centerpiece of Boston's proposal to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant.

For the Bucks and teams interested in Antetokounmpo, his ability to influence talks played a role. He has one guaranteed year left on his contract ahead of a 2027 player option. It gave him power in dictating which team he was willing to give a long-term commitment, because any team trading for Antetokounmpo in the second-apron era of a parity-driven collective bargaining agreement wanted to know whether he would sign a new extension.

According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Antetokounmpo will be eligible starting Jan. 6 to sign an extension for four years and $275 million if he opts out or three years and $214 million if he opts in.

Antetokounmpo spent 13 seasons in Milwaukee, growing from a lanky, unheralded first-round pick to racking up accolades. He was a 10-time All-Star, a two-time MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year (2020).

He led Milwaukee to its first championship in 50 years when the Bucks took the 2021 title, winning Finals MVP while averaging 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.8 blocks in the series. In doing so, he became the only player in NBA history with five All-Star selections, five All-NBA selections, multiple MVPs, a Finals MVP and a DPOY before his 27th birthday.

Antetokounmpo, 31, now heads to the Heat coming off a contentious feud with the only organization he has ever known, after playing in a career-low 36 games last season. When he was healthy, he still dominated, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game on 62% shooting.

The Heat went 43-39 last season and finished 10th in the East. They lost in the 9-10 play-in game to the Charlotte Hornets, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.