Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Heat as part of massive deal

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milwaukee-bucks/QTBEW6rC/"]Milwaukee[/a] will be acquiring  [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/herro-tyler/vexEQBs9/"]Tyler Herro[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ware-kel-el/WYLxT69l/"]Kel'el Ware[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jaquez-jr-jaime/G0EKVsjG/"]Jaime Jaquez Jr.[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jakucionis-kasparas/2ZJIpYBt/"]Kasparas Jakucionis[/a], the No. 13 overall pick in this year's draft, two more first-round picks, a pick swap, and a second-round pick.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-celtics/KYD9hVEm/"]Boston Celtics[/a] were the other team honing in on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antetokounmpo-giannis/zw2Tm2a1/"]Giannis[/a], but the Bucks ultimately dealt him to the Heat.[/p][embed guid="d431b607-a1cf-49bd-9a3e-82d3408a2fcc" url="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/2069266716551508221?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Despite Giannis, 31, not making a formal trade request from the team, ESPN insider reports have stated that he and his agent had talked with the Bucks front office about a possible trade back in February. [/p][p]He made it clear in the past that he wanted to maintain a good relationship with the Bucks and that saying "I request a trade" publicly would ruin that, preferring to keep it all behind closed doors.[/p][h2]The Greek Freak and Bobby Buckets[/h2][p]Giannis, who played in a career-low 36 games this past season due to a handful of different injuries, is currently under contract for two more years heading into this trade deal. He's set to make $58.4 million this season and $62.7 million next year, barring any contract extensions. [/p][p]Up until this past season, Giannis had never played in fewer than 60 games in a single season throughout his career.[/p][p]The Greek Freak has spent all 13 years of his NBA career with the Bucks. In that time, Giannis has built up a guaranteed Hall of Fame resume. [/p][embed guid="3df66983-b130-4066-84fb-3afdd451f42e" url="https://x.com/espn/status/2069272031456075846?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The former 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft has become a 10x All-Star, 9x All-NBA, 5x All-Defensive Team, 2x MVP, NBA Finals MVP (2020-2021), Defensive Player of the Year (2019-2020), Most Improved Player (2016-2017), and is part of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. [/p][p]Giannis has yet to average below 27 points per game since the 2017 season, and finished top five in MVP voting for seven straight years between 2018 and 2024. He has now even led the league in two-point field goals made per game for the past four straight seasons. [/p][p]Portis, 31, will be joining his Bucks teammate of the past six years in South Beach. The former 22nd overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft has finished the past five seasons averaging at least 13.5 points per game off the Bucks bench, earning him top-three placement in Sixth Man of the Year voting two years in a row (2022-2023). [/p][h2]Herro heads back home[/h2][p]Herro, 26, is headlining the group heading to Milwaukee. The All-Star guard and former Sixth Man of the Year (2021-2022) has averaged at least 20 points per game for the Heat in the past five straight seasons. [/p][p]Herro has been with the Heat since the team selected him 13th overall in the 2019 Draft. The Milwaukee native will now head back to his home city with one year left on his contract worth $33 million, barring any extension. [/p][embed guid="7ab75d7d-44f8-48ec-a5bb-be2a4396584d" url="https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/2069272773478772750?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Meanwhile, Ware, 22, is coming off just his second season. He averaged just over 11 points per game coming off the bench for the Heat this past season, an uptick from his 9.3 points per game during his rookie season. [/p][p]Jaquez Jr., 25, isn't too far ahead of Ware, as he's coming off his third season with the Heat in his short career. He averaged a career-high 15.7 points while shooting a stellar 50.7% through 75 games. [/p][p]Jakucionis, 20, is coming off his rookie season after the Heat selected him 20th overall out of Lithuania in the 2025 Draft, averaging just 6.2 points in 17.8 minutes per game this past season, but with a 42.3% three-point percentage. [/p][p]Now, the Bucks will look to grow more young talent with the boatload of draft picks from the trade, including the No. 13 pick in the draft that begins on Tuesday.[/p]