Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts (Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reacts (Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images) | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Miami Heat may have the New York Knicks to thank for their heist of Giannis Antetokounmpo this past offseason.
That's because there's a belief that the only reason the Heat were in a position to pounce on Giannis is because of one move that the Knicks had made years ago. Looking back, the trade for Mikal Bridges is one that effectively took New York out of the Giannis sweepstakes (one that had yet to be developed) and plainly gave the Heat a clear path to what they managed to pull off this summer.
If the Knicks hadn't gone all in on a trade for Mikal Bridges a few years ago, they probably would have Giannis right now. When discussing this topic of hypotheticals, CBS Sports NBA writer Sam Quinn didn't hesitate to elaborate on that narrative.
"Asked what the Knicks would have done without the Mikal Bridges trade, Quinn's answer is blunt: they'd have Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it's that simple — within a year, the assets they spent would have landed him instead."
The Heat can thank the Knicks for Giannis...in a way
And, honestly, he's probably 100 percent right. With the assets that the Knicks used to land Bridges a few years ago (three players, four unprotected first-round picks, one protected first-round pick, a pick swap, and a second-round pick), that's a package that could've given them a winning hand for Giannis.
In theory, that's an offer that would've completely trumped the Heat's this past summer. Considering that it was also reported that Giannis had originally preferred to be traded to New York, it seems like a safe bet that it's something that would've transpired had the original trade for Bridges not happened.
There's no going back now. And, at least to a certain extent, it ended up working out for both the Heat and the Knicks. New York got their championship, and the Heat got their superstar.
Miami, as they prepare for their first year with Giannis, is hoping to replicate some of the same success that New York experienced this past season (en route to a championship).
But make no mistake, the only reason why the Heat find themselves with Giannis right now is because of the Knicks' decision to put everything on the table for Bridges. And the Heat should thank their lucky stars for that.
Before Giannis, the Heat were in no man's land. They were stuck in mediocrity, the worst place that a team could be in the NBA. After the trade for Giannis, it's almost as if everything has changed for the Heat. It's a new dawn, it's a new day, and, surely, a really good feeling in Miami.
At least to a certain extent, the Heat can thank the Knicks for that.
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