The bombshell has landed, with Giannis Antetokounmpo moving states in pursuit of the second championship of his career.
Specifically, the Milwaukee Bucks have traded Giannis Antetokounmpo along with Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez, and Kasparas Jakučionis, three first-round picks (including the 13th), one pick swap, and one second-round pick, as reported by Shams Charania.
Antetokounmpo will also receive a lucrative contract with the Heat. According to ESPN, he is also willing to sign a contract extension.
Next season, he will earn $58,456,566, as per his existing deal with the Bucks. For the 2027–28 season, there is a player option worth $62,786,682, meaning the decision to activate it rests with Giannis himself.
The Bucks star has two paths. If he opts out of his current deal with the Heat, he would be eligible for a four-year contract worth $275 million. If he activates the player option, he could instead sign a three-year extension worth $214 million.
Miami Heat roster reshaped with Giannis Antetokounmpo
With the arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Miami Heat’s roster picture changes significantly, with the franchise becoming a genuine title contender thanks to a frontcourt duo of Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. Andrew Wiggins is also on the roster.
Point Guards: Davion Mitchell, Dru Smith, Young
Shooting Guards: Powell, Larson, Gardner
Small Forwards: Wiggins, Powell
Power Forwards: Antetokounmpo, Portis, Fontecchio
Centers: Adebayo, Keshad Johnson
One of the biggest NBA “blockbusters” in recent years
Giannis Antetokounmpo is leaving Milwaukee and heading to Miami in one of the most significant moves in the world’s top basketball league.
The Bucks send Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez, and Kasparas Jakučionis, along with three first-round picks (including the 13th), one pick swap and one second-round pick, according to Shams Charania.
Miami also sends Milwaukee an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, a 2033 first-round pick, along with the No.13 pick and a 2030 and 2033 pick swap in the second round.
The Heat now form a powerful pairing of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo in the paint.
The deal does not involve other teams; it is a two-team trade, although the Heat and Bucks will finalise the agreement on July 6, allowing them to expand it until then.
Reporter Jake Fischer had recently noted that the Bucks were operating as if they would end up with the 13th draft pick, which brought the Heat into the conversation for Antetokounmpo—and ultimately proved accurate.
Giannis leaves Milwaukee after 13 years, during which he averaged 24.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per game.
With the Bucks, he made history by winning the 2021 championship and leaves as the franchise leader in points, rebounds, assists, games played, minutes, blocks, free throws, made shots, triple-doubles, and second in steals.
Giannis’ social media post
Amid speculation, Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a message on Instagram late Monday into Tuesday that sparked widespread interpretation:
A relationship that reached an impasse
The saga around the two-time MVP began in May 2025, when Antetokounmpo first expressed a willingness to consider continuing his career outside Milwaukee.
Contacts between his camp and the Bucks continued throughout the year. Last summer, the Greek star reportedly expressed a desire to play for the New York Knicks, but the Bucks believed they remained Eastern Conference contenders and chose to keep him.
The situation worsened during the season. Antetokounmpo reportedly made it clear he was ready to be traded, the team discussed potential deals before the trade deadline, and relations deteriorated further when the player triggered an NBA investigation into how the Bucks managed his knee injury toward the end of the season.
A difficult final season in Milwaukee
The Bucks finished the season with a 32–50 record, missing both the playoffs and the play-in tournament, ending a run of nine consecutive postseason appearances.
Antetokounmpo played in only 36 games, dealing with adductor, calf and knee issues. He still averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game.
He spent all 13 seasons of his NBA career with the Bucks, holding the most important statistical records in franchise history. He also led Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA Championship, delivering the franchise its first title in 50 years.
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