NBA insider believes the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat tick all the boxes to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Multiple teams have stood out as possible contenders to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks after the latest trade status update, but only a few teams tick all the boxes for an actual deal.
Miami Heat / Schedule
NBA Front Office Insider for ESPN, Bobby Marks, believes there are three boxes teams have to check to propose a deal for Giannis: draft equity/young players, controllable contracts, and expiring/moveable salary.
Marks notes that looking at the first box, teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks already don't meet it, as they can't trade their first-round picks, leaving the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat as better trade candidates.
"Warriors got four firsts they can trade, Heat can trade two firsts. Minnesota and NYK cannot trade a first," Marks noted on the NBA Today show.
Looking at the second box, he believes the Heat have the edge with players like Kel'el Ware and Jaime Jaquez.
"That would give Miami an edge there with Ware and Jaquez. Warriors have Podziemsky. Milwaukee does not have young players on controllable contracts," he says.
Although the last box—expiring/moveable salary—looks more favorable for the Warriors, according to Marks.
"I look at Golden State with Jonathan Kuminga, I'm looking at Jimmy Butler," he added.
According to earlier reports, the Bucks are seeking blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Although the Bucks are not rushing their decision, they aim to get the most for their franchise superstar, with an asking price already revealed.
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