The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga finally came to a close last night at midnight Eastern time.
Right before dozing off with dreams of the draft in my head, the notification that shook the NBA world lit up my phone.
Today, after a morning of processing it for both sides, I will analyze the trade for both the Bucks and Heat, as well as the impact the deal has on the Celtics, who finished 2nd in the Greek Freak Sweepstakes.
Grade for the Heat: B
It’s hard to grade a trade when you receive a top-5 player in the world, potentially the best when healthy. However, the amount of depth sent north is downright horrifying. An immediate reaction to the trade, for many people, was about who would come off the bench for Miami. They were able to keep Nikola Jovic and Pelle Larsson, whom I deemed among the lesser-valued young pieces in South Beach.
Now, the bench unit looks something like the two mentioned prior, Bobby Portis, Dru Smith, and Dunk Contest Champion Keshod Johnson or Myron Gardner.
The Heat also put themselves into a contractual nightmare: Andrew Wiggins has a $30 million player option, while they also want to bring back All-Star guard Norman Powell.
GM Pat Riley will have to fill out the bench with minimum contracts or offload more money before July 6th, when the trade is finalized, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Heat are sending to Milwaukee unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033 along with No. 13, a pick swap in 2030 and a 2033 second-rounder, according to sources.
The trade does not include any additional teams — it is a one-to-one move, sources said — but both the Heat… https://t.co/qsxVhBh9gp
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026
Let’s be real, though – the frontcourt defense of Bam Adebayo and Giannis is as formidable as it gets. Both always end up in the DPOY race and are supplemented by elite perimeter defender Davion Mitchell. Offensively, Erik Spoelstra is a perfect guy to get every bit out of Giannis as possible, and I’m tantalized by the prospect of a Giannis-Bam pick-and-roll. Not many teams can guard that.
Grade for the Bucks: B+
This grade can be greatly increased if Tyler Herro is shipped off for more draft capital. The Bucks do not control their own pick until 2031, and they critically need to obtain first-round picks. Herro, like Giannis, is a free agent after next season. Unless Milwaukee intends to extend the Wisconsin native, it would be a great loss for him to walk without the Bucks gaining more draft capital. His fit in Detroit feels seamless, and the Pistons have been rumored to be interested in the former 6th Man of the Year.
Now, with the new lottery system, the Bucks can find themselves being lackluster while benefiting from a potentially mediocre Heat squad. Bam has been an iron man for years, only playing under 65 games once in his career, while Giannis is on the wrong side of 30 with lingering injury issues. Because these 3 FRPs from the Heat are unprotected, what’s to say that one of the two misses time and falls to the 8 seed, and then the Bucks get the maximum amount of lottery balls?
Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Jaime Jaquez are all impressive young pieces that Milwaukee could continue to flip or build around. My opinion leans towards Ware, who offers the best two-way ability out of this trio, but don’t sleep on Jakucionis. He didn’t get much run time in Miami, but he is lethal from beyond the 3-point line. On July 6th, this grade can change either way. I expect both teams to move more pieces around for financial freedom or draft capital.
Celtics: Losers?
I’d say so.
Jaylen Brown has now been publicly shopped for another superstar, and the bridge feels fully burnt. It’s a shame to imagine the Jays’ era is over, but the relationship feels irreparable. The Celtics finished just short of completing a deal with Milwaukee, but were hesitant to add depth pieces in Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman, as well as some first-rounders.
I was initially all in for Giannis if it meant a 1-for-1 swap of the two Finals MVPs, but now trading JB for other pieces feels like the only option, and I feel Celtics fans will be disappointed in the package no matter what. Names that have flown around in exchange for JB are Trey Murphy III of the Pelicans, Jabari Smith Jr. of the Rockets, and….
Anthony Edwards???
Hear me out.
The Georgia superstar is reportedly frustrated with the Timberwolves due to the KAT trade two offseasons ago.
Could the Celtics swoop in and ask for the disgruntled highflier and try to send our disgruntled highflier to Minnesota? It’s possible.
It would require FRPs, but now that we have seen Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo traded in consecutive seasons, no one is safe.
