Much of the talk around the league of late has been about Giannis Antetokounmpo being “ready for a new home,” as Shams Charania put it. The Miami Heat are an obvious destination for the superstar, but they might not have enough draft assets to shell out. That could change if the Charlotte Hornets waive the protections on the draft pick Miami owes them in 2027.
Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat [cannot trade any](https://x.com/flasportsbuzz/status/2016557933538988492) of their first-round picks from 2027 to 2029 because of the lottery-protected first-rounder they have to ship to Charlotte. It’s either a non-lottery selection next year or an unprotected 2028 first-round pick. But if the Hornets agree to remove the protection, Miami will have more draft capital available to trade.
It’s unclear what the Milwaukee Bucks plan to do with Antetokounmpo. They could look to be over and done with the drama by this season’s trade deadline, or wait for summer when they can potentially have more trade packages to choose from.
For the Heat, they would probably prefer to acquire the two-time MVP soon rather than see him land on another team. The New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, and Atlanta Hawks are among the possible landing spots mentioned.
What should Charlotte do?
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So, perhaps the Hornets can do Miami a favor. In an ideal world, Buzz City [would rather bring in](https://swarmandsting.com/hornets-every-reason-world-enter-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-chaos) Antetokounmpo itself. Unfortunately, the Bucks’ asking price might be tough for the franchise to meet, especially if it has no plans on parting ways with any of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, or Kon Knueppel.
Moreover, Giannis might balk at the idea of playing for the Hornets and leave in the summer of 2027. He has a player of option for the 2027-28 campaign. Can you imagine how the fandom would react if they gave up a ton of assets for a year of an unhappy Antetokounmpo? It’s better then for them to join the fray merely as a facilitator or just spectate from the sidelines how everything unfolds.
As for the idea of helping the Heat in their pursuit of Antetokounmpo, Charlotte definitely has little incentive to do so. But if the front office does go that route, it could perhaps ask for some form of compensation, such as a future second-round selection.
The coming week will undoubtedly be exciting to watch, especially now that the “Greek Freak” has seemingly made his stance clear. The Hornets should be busy making and taking calls, as opportunities to add more assets, particularly draft picks, could present themselves soon.