The Miami Heat have been linked once again to Giannis Antetokounmpo, with NBA insider Sam Amick suggesting Miami could be a serious option if the Bucks star declines a future extension.
The Miami Heat are once again part of major NBA star talk, as rumors around potential big moves continue to grow. After a week filled with Ja Morant speculation, a familiar superstar name has resurfaced around Miami: Giannis Antetokounmpo.
This time, the connection came from The Athletic reporter Sam Amick, who discussed the situation on The Ryen Russillo Show. Amick suggested that Miami remains a team to watch if the Heat decide to re-enter the star market in a big way.
"I don't know exactly how they're approaching it. They're pretty close to the vest. But I think the discussion around Ja and Giannis gives you probably both ends of that spectrum," Amick said.
"If you want to reach and and get back in the star player business right now, you can probably find a way to do that with Ja, you know, but if you have any intel that, like we talked about earlier, that Giannis may decline that extension, and then Miami, my understanding, for sure, is absolutely a place that that Giannis is believed to be open to."
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Amick also pointed to the timing and the bigger picture around the Heat organization. After years built around Jimmy Butler, Miami could be nearing another major shift.
"And so, even just the NBA fan side of me, like it's been a minute since the Heat did that thing where they go get the guy, and they have guys and they've had a fun year, but, post-Jimmy-Butler messiness, it's starting to feel like it's only a matter of time until they take a big swing," Amick continued.
"Pat [Riley]'s not getting any younger, and Erik [Spoelstra], obviously, I mean even just last night he talked about the short runway of coaches and how he's been the exception, but even Erik is not going to do this forever," he added. "So I don't know what that looks like, but you feel like one of these days we're going to look up and they've done something big."
Antetokounmpo trade rumors first picked up last offseason and have never fully gone away. Earlier this season, they heated up again, though the two-time MVP recently said it is not in his nature to ask for a trade.
On the court, the Bucks are struggling to find consistency. Milwaukee sits at 17-23, currently 11th in the Eastern Conference and 1.5 games behind the Chicago Bulls for the final Play-In spot.
Despite the team struggles, Antetokounmpo continues to play at an elite level. In 26 games this season, he is averaging 29.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in just 29 minutes per game. He is shooting 64.9% from the field, 38.9% from three, and 65.1% from the free-throw line.
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