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The day that many Dallas Mavericks fans have waited for has finally arrived. The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will take place Tuesday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the Mavs will presumably get the chance to continue building around Cooper Flagg. This is the last draft pick the Mavericks will have their control over until 2031, so in all likelihood, this will be their last, best chance to add a premier young player to the roster. No pressure, right?

With all that in mind, here are a few things you should be aware of as we head into the night.

Trade winds are blowing

Well, after the news of Monday that has Dallas hiring National Champion Dusty May as their next head coach, the rumors have begun to swirl about the Mavs potentially trying to bring in one of his former players. Whether it’s center Aday Mara, or forwards Yaxel Lendeborg or Morez Johnson Jr., the conversation has gotten loud. For what it’s worth, the fine folks over at the Fanduel Sportsbook still make Arizona guard Brayden Burries (+250) a pretty sizable favorite to go ninth over the aforementioned Mara (+500), Houston’s Kingston Flemings (+700) and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler (+850).

Will a guard fall to Dallas?

If the Mavericks are at least going to get to the clock at pick nine, it is fair to wonder if one of the guards in that range simply falls to them. Whether it be Flemings, Wagler, Burries, Mikel Brown Jr. or Darius Acuff, someone or multiple someones will likely be there at nine. The question is, will Dallas like the one that falls? If so, expect them to stick and pick. If not, well, see above.

The Pick 30 of it all

But wait, there’s more! Because of the Anthony Davis trade (the second, much more liked one), Dallas also owns pick 30 of this draft. However, like seemingly every other team in that range, the Mavs are looking to make a deal to move up from there. This is likely where you’ll see any vets moved, such as Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall or PJ Washington. There are a ton of scenarios for round one in Dallas, and very few of them seem to have Dallas sticking at both nine and thirty. We’ll have our eyes peeled for movement early and often.

How to watch

You can find your draft coverage on ABC and/or ESPN, depending on which flavor of coverage you’re after. One of them will have a more NBA focused crew, while the other will have a college crew who is more familiar with the prospects. Don’t ask me why or which one I’ll be watching (it’ll be whichever one has Fran Fraschilla on it).

pic.twitter.com/xa6YDNUfuL

— Kirk Henderson (@KirkSeriousFace) June 19, 2026

Also, catch our recap show on youtube tomorrow after draft! Kirk and several familiar faces from the site will be live to recap what the Mavs and the league at large has done. A fun time will be had!

The Giannis Antetokounmpo deal, after months of speculation, is done.

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to ship the two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat, in return for a group of young players and a haul of draft capital, two people with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed to USA TODAY Sports.

And while this trade has been months – if not years – in the making, now comes the breakdown over what it means for the NBA and the Eastern Conference overall.

Here are the grades for each party involved in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the Miami Heat.

Miami Heat

The Heat and team president Pat Riley finally landed another one of their elusive whales. This was a team that had languished in the play-in picture for consecutive seasons, and it became instantly apparent that Miami would have a difficult time competing in the Eastern Conference under the previous construction of its roster.

Granted, the Heat did give up a haul of solid young players, many of them on cost-controlled rookie contracts, as well as a premium of draft capital, so this does come with some significant cost. And Miami will now need to replenish a roster that suddenly becomes rather thin on depth.

But, with this move, Miami pairs Antetokounmpo, a dominant fastbreak player and rim protecting force with Bam Adebayo, a balanced leader and versatile defender.

The Heat were never going to compete with the roster they had. Miami needs to add shooting, but it now has the defensive ability to compete with the conference’s best teams.

Grade: B+

Milwaukee Bucks

It’s never easy to trade away your franchise player. But the reality is that Antetokounmpo’s time in Milwaukee, sooner rather than later, was coming to an end.

The Bucks deserve a lot of credit for playing the hand that they were dealt. They could’ve been stubborn and tried once more to convince Antetokounmpo to commit to the franchise. They could’ve dragged this on past the 2026 NBA Draft, whose first round will begin just hours after the trade broke, squandering the chance to add talent in what’s largely considered the deepest draft in a decade.

But Milwaukee chose to accept the reality and it remained patient – well past the February trading deadline – to ensure it extracted as much leverage and value as it could out of the situation. In fact, the Bucks clearly played the Heat and Celtics off of each other and did so deftly.

Tyler Herro can create his own shot, but could also be moved for more draft capital. Kel'el Ware is a promising stretch big who has steady range. Jaime Jaquez Jr. has been a solid contributor off the bench and should shine with an increased role. Kasparas Jakučionis flashed play-making and defensive ability in his rookie season.

But the draft capital is where this deal can really pay dividends for Milwaukee. The No. 13 pick could be packaged with the No. 10 to move up in a talent-rich draft. And the 2031 and 2033 first-round selections are unprotected, meaning that they will be Milwaukee’s no matter what.

Now, the Bucks just need to hit on those picks.

Grade: A-

Boston Celtics

This was the risk the Celtics were making by dangling Jaylen Brown out in trade talks. It remains to be seen how this may impact Brown’s emotions, but there’s the chance now that the Celtics will need to navigate a locker room with some tension.

President of basketball operations Brad Stevens does deserve some credit for understanding that the Celtics, in today’s NBA driven by parity and roster turnover, needed to do something else to compete. The roster did have weaknesses that were exposed when the team blew a 3-1 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals. But this could blow up spectacularly in their faces, especially if Brown becomes disgruntled and asks out.

Brown, after all, was the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, and has been an elite talent alongside Jayson Tatum. He carried Boston this season while Tatum recuperated from his ruptured Achilles tendon.

The Celtics don’t like to have their business or their intentions aired out in the open like this. And, ultimately, failing to land Antetokounmpo goes down as a categorical failure.

Grade: D

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis Antetokounmpo trade grades: Bucks, Heat win; Celtics lose big

The Milwaukee Bucks had two roads to chose from in deciding where to send future Hall of Famer Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they took the harder path.

The Boston Celtics dangled Jaylen Brown, a known star who could have kept them in the playoff race next season. The Miami Heat offered youth and picks.

The Bucks bet on the future.

That tells you a lot about where this franchise thinks it is right now. Milwaukee sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, including the No. 13 in Tuesday night's draft, a pick swap and a second-rounder. That is a total reset.

NBA BLOCKBUSTER: Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to Heat in massive deal

MIAMI IMPACT: What Giannis trade means for Heat in Eastern Conference

What Milwaukee actually got back

The Bucks are going through a rebuild, but this trade gives them an NBA-talent foundation to start with. Herro, a 2025 All-Star is obviously not a two-time MVP, but he can score, and he'll make the Bucks fun to watch. Herro averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 31.3 minutes for the Heat this past season but was limited to 33 games by a foot injury. He's a high-volume scorer and shot-maker, the closest thing to a star in this package.

Ware and Jaquez are cheap, young and show potential for development. They are the type of players that you want in a rebuild. Ware, 22, is a 7-foot center taken with the No. 15 pick in the 2024 draft. He averaged 11.1 points, 9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 22.1 minutes over 77 games in the 2025-26 season. With Myles Turner's future unsettled, Ware could grow into a bigger role in Milwaukee.

Jaquez, 25, bounced back in his third season with 15.4 points, 5 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 75 games last season. The forward is a glue player that helps a team transitioning through a rebuild.

Kasparas Jakucionis, 19, was selected by the Heat with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 draft. The center from Lithuania averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 53 games during his rookie season, while splitting time with the G League.

The No. 13 pick in Tuesday night's draft gives new coach Taylor Jenkins someone else to grow with the team.

But, their real prize is further out.

The Heat sent unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033, plus a 2030 swap. Those are seasons most of us are not thinking about, but it could give the Bucks lottery picks to continue building with.

None of it replaces what is leaving. Even at just 36 games last year, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists.

The breakup everyone saw coming

This was not sudden. Antetokounmpo and his agent told the Bucks over the last year that he wanted out and would not sign another long-term extension. The frustration leaked into public view. After fans booed a January blowout against Minnesota, he gave them a thumbs down and booed back. When the franchise player is fueding with the home fans, it's time for a change.

In May, co-owner Jimmy Haslam put a clock on it and asked for a decision by the June 23 draft. The clock ran out.

Thanks for the memories

Despite the recent acrimony, this is a sad day for Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo was the 15th pick in the 2013 draft who grew into a two-time MVP, and in 2021, the NBA Finals MVP who delivered the franchise's second title and ended a 50-year drought. That was the pinnacle. The Bucks haven't been back to the Finals since; they haven't had a playoff series win since 2022, and last season ended with a 32-50 record.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to Heat means for Milwaukee Bucks

Now that Giannis Antetokounmpo is headed to South Beach to play for the Miami Heat in a blockbuster deal less than 24 hours before the NBA draft, the question is whether it makes them instant title contenders.

The quick answer is no. But there are many caveats to that, the biggest being Antetokounmpo's health, as he played only 36 games last season due to a variety of injuries. But when he was in the lineup, he averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in just under 29 minutes per game.

The fact that Antetokounmpo wasn't going to sign a contract extension with Milwaukee made this trade inevitable. The 31-year-old two-time MVP will make $58 million this season, and his player option for the 2027-28 season is worth $62 million.

The Heat clearly wants to win now, and Pat Riley is giving up Tyler Herro, who has averaged 20 or more points a game in five straight seasons, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis, along with three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-round pick. One of those first-round draft picks is No. 13 in Tuesday's draft.

Riley's patience was clearly wearing thin, even with two NBA Finals appearances this decade. With this trade, the message is loud and clear: that the play-in game is not an option and anything less than a title run is unacceptable.

But the Eastern Conference has the Boston Celtics, still with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, who had the No. 1 seed before flaming out in the second round, and of course, the defending champions, the New York Knicks, figure to be back in the mix before it's all said and done.

Miami needs to address getting younger and will need someone to distribute the ball efficiently, especially if they don't hand the reins to Davion Mitchell or Dru Smith. Now that Herro is not on the roster, getting a proven 3-point shooter is an absolute must, as Bam Adebayo and Antetokounmpo clog the middle and demand double teams.

Norman Powell is 33 years old and led the Heat in scoring but is an unrestricted free agent. Adebayo is a 20-10 guy each night, but the role players who made Miami a functional, balanced — although underachieving team — are now in Milwaukee. Andrew Wiggins, whose best days might be behind him, is another piece that provides a veteran presence, but he, like Herro, will be on the last year of his contract and might be gone sooner rather than later.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis trade impact: How Heat are impacted after trade with Bucks

Because Adam Silver’s NBA is a crazy place that makes little sense, the draft is now a two-day event with the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft set for Tuesday.

Most assume this will be an all-time draft with a slew of top prospects at the top of the big board. All four of Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson are considered worthy of the No. 1 pick. Even after that, the draft has plenty of prospects who can come in and immediately be impactful players.

It’s a good year, then, for the Lakers to have a first round pick. After finishing with a matching record with the Knicks, LA lost a coin flip and hold the No. 25 pick.

A lot of players have been mocked to the Lakers with that pick, ranging from Jayden Quaintance more recently to a player like Henri Veesaar.

The Lakers are known to be a bit unpredictable at the draft, though, so it’s hard to project what happens. What we do know is the draft order, which is listed below.

---

2026 NBA Draft

First Round

1. Washington
2. Utah
3. Memphis
4. Chicago
5. LA Clippers (from Indiana)
6. Brooklyn
7. Sacramento
8. Atlanta (from New Orleans)
9. Dallas
10. Milwaukee
11. Golden State
12. Oklahoma City (from LA Clippers)
13. Milwaukee (from Miami)
14. Charlotte
15. Chicago (from Portland)
16. Memphis (from Phoenix via Orlando)
17. Oklahoma City (from Philadelphia)
18. Charlotte (from Orlando via Phoenix)
19. Toronto
20. San Antonio (from Atlanta)
21. Detroit (from Minnesota)
22. Philadelphia (from Houston via Oklahoma City)
23. Atlanta (from Cleveland)
24. New York
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver
27. Boston
28. Minnesota (from Detroit)
29. Cleveland (from San Antonio via Atlanta)
30. Dallas (from Oklahoma City via Washington and Philadelphia)

Second Round

31. New York (from Washington via Oklahoma City and Houston)
32. Memphis (from Indiana via Milwaukee)
33. Brooklyn
34. Sacramento
35. San Antonio (from Utah via Minnesota)
36. LA Clippers (from Memphis via Atlanta and Utah)
37. Oklahoma City (from Dallas)
38. Chicago (from New Orleans via Boston, Detroit, and Portland)
39. Houston (from Chicago via Washington)
40. Boston (from Milwaukee via Orlando)
41. Miami (from Golden State via Charlotte, New York, Oklahoma City, and Atlanta)
42. San Antonio (from Portland via New Orleans)
43. Brooklyn (from LA Clippers via Houston)
44. San Antonio (from Miami via Indiana)
45. Sacramento (from Charlotte via San Antonio, Atlanta, and New York)
46. Orlando
47. Phoenix (from Philadelphia via Houston and Oklahoma City)
48. Dallas (from Phoenix via Washington)
49. Denver (from Atlanta via Brooklyn and Golden State)
50. Toronto
51. Washington (from Minnesota via Detroit and New York)
52. LA Clippers (from Cleveland)
53. Houston
54. Golden State (from Los Angeles Lakers via Toronto, Miami, and Cleveland)
55. New York
56. Chicago (from Denver via Minnesota, Phoenix, Charlotte, and Phoenix)
57. Atlanta (from Boston)
58. New Orleans (from Detroit via New York, Brooklyn, Phoenix, Orlando, and LA Clippers)
59. Minnesota (from San Antonio via Indiana)
60. Washington (from Oklahoma City via San Antonio and Miami)

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

The Celtics weren’t able to land Giannis Antetokounmpo to pair with Jayson Tatum, as the Bucks’ superstar was dealt to the Heat late Monday night in exchange for a package headlined by Tyler Herro and a plethora of draft picks.

But it wasn’t for a lack of a compelling package.

Boston offered star Jaylen Brown and two first-rounders to the Bucks in an effort to land the two-time MVP and 10-time All-Star, according to ESPN.

The presence of Brown would’ve allowed Milwaukee — who won the title with Antetokounmpo in 2021 but has been sucked into years of sagas and trade scenarios since — to be more competitive in the present, but the Bucks instead opted for the return that brought “more flexibility and big-picture approach with controlled contracts and long-term competitiveness,” according to ESPN.

Brown, a five-time All-Star who helped the Celtics win the 2024 title and averaged 28.7 points last season, addressed the trade rumors earlier Monday on Twitch, saying, “To all the people that’s doubted me, that want me to do this, or want me [traded], you’re turning me into a monster,” Brown said on the stream.

For most of last season, as Tatum recovered from a torn Achilles, Brown got an opportunity to be the face of the Celtics, to be the focal point of the offense, to be the one — alone — in the spotlight instead of sharing it with another superstar.

Instead, the Celtics were the finalist that lost out on the generational talent, who now instantly turns Miami back into an Eastern Conference contender even with Tyler Herro going back to Milwaukee and the Heat coming off a 2025-26 season where they missed the playoffs altogether.

Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, the No. 13 pick in this year’s draft, a 2033 second-round pick and a pick swap in 2030 all went back to the Bucks, too, according to ESPN.

Bobby Portis was shipped to Miami alongside Antetokounmpo.

And now, with Antetokounmpo no longer an option and a major shake-up to their core no longer a realistic scenario, the Celtics will need to rely on Brown and Tatum again after a disappointing first-round exit in the postseason.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga is officially over.

The two-time MVP and 2021 NBA champion has been traded by the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13 in Tuesday's NBA Draft), a 2030 pick swap, and a 2033 second-rounder, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The deal will be executed on July 6, allowing for opportunities to expand the deal, Charania notes.

Antetokounmpo, who'll turn 32 in December, had spent his entire 13-year career with the Bucks after being drafted with the No. 15 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

The Knicks had long been rumored as a team interested in acquiring the superstar, and even had cursory talks with Milwaukee in August of 2025, but they did not reach an advanced level, per SNY NBA Insider Ian Begley. It was noted that Antetokounmpo had singled out New York as "the only place" he wanted to play outside of Milwaukee with hopes of winning a title.

Trade rumors picked up again in January as it was reported the 10-time All-Star was "ready for a new home" ahead of the trade deadline or in the offseason. The Knicks were "among teams making aggressive offers” for him at the time, along with the Heat, but Milwaukee held on to him through the remainder of the regular season.

Of course, and despite the odds, the Knicks were able to accomplish the goal of winning the franchise's first NBA title since 1973 without him on June 13.

Buzz picked up again in recent days after the NBA Finals that the Boston Celtics and Heat were viewed as the frontrunners to land Antetokounmpo, with both teams on his list of preferred destinations. Miami president Pat Riley found a way to get it done late Monday night, besting the Celtics' offer of Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, per Charania.

The Giannis Antetokounmpo era is over for the Milwaukee Bucks. After years of resisting trade overtures for their franchise star, the Bucks finally agreed to deal the two-time MVP as he enters the final year of his contract.

The Miami Heat have acquired Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis from the Bucks in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, and the No. 13 overall pick in the 2026 draft, unprotected first-rounders in 2031 and 2033, a first-round pick swap in 2030, and a 2033 second-rounder, according to ESPN insider Shams Charania. The Bucks chose this offer over a package from the Boston Celtics headlined by Jaylen Brown.

The Bucks finally decided to accept reality that they couldn’t build another championship team around Giannis. The Heat finally landed a new superstar after years of coming up just short in trade offers. The trade that the entire league was waiting for finally happened. Let’s grade this deal for both sides.

Heat trade grade for Giannis Antetokounmpo deal

It’s hard to believe the Heat are the only team in the NBA to make multiple appearances in the NBA Finals during the 2020s. Miami lost in the first round of the playoffs in the two years following its shocking 2023 Finals run as a No. 8 seed, and last season the Heat missed the playoffs completely for the first time since 2019.

The Heat had gone as far as they could with their current roster. They badly needed a star, and they found one who actually wants to be there. This was reportedly Giannis’ preferred landing spot, and it’s likely he signs a long-term contract extension there before the season begins.

Giannis is still one of the best players in the NBA when he’s healthy. He’s a dominant rim attacker, a terrifying transition threat, a sharp passer, and one of the league’s scariest help defenders who now gets to roam next to an elite defensive center in Bam Adebayo. Health has been his biggest issue in recent years. His body seems to break down around the playoffs every year, and it’s why the Bucks made three straight first-round playoff exits before missing the postseason entirely this past season. He turns 32 years old in December.

The Heat don’t have much left after this trade. Adebayo and Antetokounmpo might be the NBA’s best front line, but there are a lot of questions after that. Norman Powell is an unrestricted free agent. Andrew Wiggins has a $30 million player option. The best guard currently under contract for next season is either Davion Mitchell or Pelle Larsson. The point is, the Heat have a lot of work to do to build a contending team around Giannis and Bam after this year. Still, finding stars is the hard part, and Miami has landed one of the best if he can stay healthy.

There’s a lot of risk here if Giannis’ continues to break down after they sign him to an extension. The reality is the Heat didn’t have a better path forward. Miami had been stuck in the middle for years. They refused to tank. Making an all-in push for Giannis felt like their only way out, but the pressure is on in a big way now to quickly transform this roster with compelling role players. The Heat are typically the best organization in the league at development diamonds in the rough. Erik Spoelstra is a living legend as head coach. Let’s see if they can do it again.

Heat grade: B+

Bucks trade grade for Giannis Antetokounmpo deal

Giannis really should have been a one-team superstar like Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant, but the Bucks’ grand plans to build around him went bust. Milwaukee’s bold trade for Damian Lillard didn’t work out like they hoped, and it left the franchise without any other assets for future moves. The divorce between Giannis and the Bucks happened in slow motion, but it feels like the best move for both sides.

This feels like the best possible trade return for the Bucks even if it’s a tad underwhelming compared to recent deals for inferior players like Desmond Bane, Mikal Bridges, and Rudy Gobert. The Bucks got quite a bit here given that Giannis only had one more season left on his contract. Landing a second lottery pick in a good draft is nice work. Miami’s unprotected picks in 2031 and 2033 as Giannis enters his late-30s could be juicy.

It really feels like the Bucks squeezed the Heat for the best possible offer. The 2030 pick swap is a nice inclusion. Getting Kasparas Jakucionis, a first-round pick last season, is a worthy flier for the backcourt. Herro is a Milwaukee native and one of the better scoring guards in the league, but he doesn’t really fit the Bucks’ timeline now. I’d bet Herro gets flipped before the season, and the Bucks get even more assets back to help with their rebuild.

I have always loved Kel’el Ware’s raw talent. He’s a bouncy center with a nearly 7’5 wingspan who made 39.5 percent of his threes on 6.5 attempts per 100 possessions last year. He’s a good rebounder on both ends when he’s engaged. Ware is so talented that he often leaves you wanting more, and he never truly earned the trust of Spoelstra during his first two years in Miami. He just turned 22 years old. If he can grow into the Bucks’ center of the future, this package will look a lot more appealing.

This is a sad ending for the Giannis era in Milwaukee, but the Bucks did well to recoup every last future asset they could in the deal.

Bucks grade: A-

The balance of the Eastern Conference has shifted one more time, with Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Heat in this June 22nd blockbuster trade.

Shame Charania has announced the trade, which see Giannis make his way to the Heat, alongside Bobby Portis. The Bucks will recoup four players – guards Tyler Herro, and Kasparas Jakucionis, forward Jaime Jaquez Jr, and centre Kel’el Ware – alongside the 13th overall pick in Tuesday’s draft, two more first rounders, alongside a second rounder and a pick swap, in exchange for parting with the one-time champion, two-time MVP. This is a move that has brought Milwaukee into a retooling phase, while elevating Giannis into a position of potential contention now that the forward has joined their team.

BLOCKBUSTER: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NQT5ZhdJU9

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026

This move has serious ramifications for the Eastern Conference as a whole, but the Raptors’ already precarious position has been made even more uncertain with the entrance of a new heavy-hitter to the East.

A certain level of parity was hit in the middle of the pack last year, with the 5th and 6th seeded Raptors and Hawks tied with 46-36 records, and the 7th and 8th seeded 76ers and Magic were only two games behind, going 45-37. The Miami Heat went 43 and 39, earning the 10th seed. With low-level playoff spots as close as they are, the Heat’s jump-ahead to become even more serious contenders could result in a team that Toronto ends up facing in the play-in, or, should playoff seeding come down to the wire as it did in the past season, competing with for the fifth or sixth seed.

More playoff-calibre teams are the last things this Raptors squad needs to deal with as they fight to establish themselves in the league. However, there is something of a silver lining for Toronto, depending on the way you look at things: Rebecca Schapelhouman wrote on the Bucks potentially letting go of Myles Turner as part of their rebuild post-Giannis, allowing Toronto to move off of some rough contracts in the process, while getting a floor spacing big who, perhaps with a change of scenery, could flourish north of the border.

After years of intrigue connecting the Raptors and Antetokounmpo, the latest chapter of the Greek Freak-Toronto saga is finally closed. Want to look back on our old days of chasing the forward? Check out this old piece about what Chelsea Leite would, and wouldn’t give up for Giannis.

That’s finally over.

The Milwaukee Bucks have traded Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat, sending one of the league’s defining superstars to a direct Eastern Conference rival in exchange for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks (including No. 13), one pick swap, and one second-round pick.

BLOCKBUSTER: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NQT5ZhdJU9

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026

The deal theoretically reshapes the conference and gives the defending champion New York Knicks a new obstacle on their road back to the Finals.

Milwaukee agreed to send Antetokounmpo and Portis to Miami in exchange for Herro, Ware, Jaquez Jr., Jakucionis, three first-round selections, a pick swap, and a second-rounder.

The move ends an era for the Bucks while making Miami an instant contender built around Giannis and Bam Adebayo.

The Knicks were already expecting opponents to take big swings after winning the NBA championship. Adding a player who has been an MVP (twice), Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and perennial All-NBA selection is quite a haymaker.

That said, our panic meter isn’t hemorrhaging just yet. New York won a championship by combining elite star talent with depth, versatility, chemistry, and commitment to defense. This trade doesn’t erase that foundation. Nonetheless, every television panel and podcast will spend the summer discussing whether Giannis and Bam Adebayo have already leapfrogged the defending champs.

According to Shams Charania, “The Celtics aggressively pursued Giannis, offering Milwaukee a package featuring 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, sources tell ESPN. The Bucks seriously negotiated with two finalists in recent weeks: Miami and Boston, which were both on Antetokounmpo’s list of preferred destinations.”

We bet things will be awkward in the locker room if the Celts go into training camp with Brown still on the roster. Oh, to be a fly on the wall. . . .

The combination of Giannis and Adebayo gives Miami one of the league’s most intimidating frontcourts, capable of controlling the paint on both ends. The flip side is that Miami paid a big price for the privilege, stripping away much of the franchise’s young depth and future flexibility.

Veteran minimum players are likely to be interested in joining the Heat now. Meanwhile, Milwaukee begins a franchise-altering rebuild built around a haul of young players and draft assets. And the Knicks? They’ll keep preparing to defend a title.

Go Knicks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, finally, has a new home.

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star, and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat in a massive blockbuster deal Monday, June 22, moving one of the elite players in the league – when healthy – two people with direct knowledge of the matter confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The people spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment on the deal.

In return, the Bucks will receive Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakučionis, three first-round picks, a second-round selection and a pick swap, as they look to rebuild for the future after Antetokounmpo delivered a championship during the 2021 NBA Finals.

The trade cannot be executed until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, which is the start of the new league year. Because of that, this trade could expand to include more teams and players, and the Heat will need to make the selection at No. 13 Tuesday night on behalf of Milwaukee.

But with this move, the Heat instantly improve their standing in the East, and team president Pat Riley once again delivers a star player to Miami. Antetokounmpo also gets his wish. He had long been linked to Miami, and he and Heat captain Bam Adebayo share the same agent, Alex Saratsis.

The Heat started the 2025-26 season hot as they revamped their offense to focus on speed, pace and fastbreak offense, but opposing teams deployed more zone and full-court pressure to slow the Heat considerably.

Miami struggled to gain traction and faded in the second half of the season, eventually losing in the Play-In Tournament to miss the postseason for the first time in six seasons.

Antetokounmpo, however, fits Miami’s philosophy perfectly. Blessed with incredible size and length at 6-foot-11, and elite athleticism, Antetokounmpo is arguably the best transition scorer in the NBA. By pairing him with Adebayo, an NBA All-Defensive second-team selection, the Heat now have formidable height, defensive versatility and rim protection, which will be invaluable in the East.

In many ways, this move is a direct maneuver to compete against teams like the Knicks, Celtics, Pacers and Cavaliers in the East. And after the fan base had clamored for Riley and the front office to take a big swing to land a star, this trade appeases those who had started to wonder if maybe it was time for Riley to step down.

This comes after months of speculation that Antetokounmpo, 31, was seeking a new home. Antetokounmpo was the big name constantly mentioned prior to the 2026 NBA trading deadline in February, as the Bucks weighed interest in the star. The constant rumor prompted both the Bucks and Antetokounmpo to repeatedly address his future in Milwaukee.

For example, a Jan. 28 report indicated that Antetokounmpo was ready for a new home, either before the trading deadline, or in the offseason. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam, however, indicated earlier in May that he expected resolution concerning Antetokounmpo’s future before the NBA draft.

Antetokounmpo, however, played only 36 games this season after he dealt with multiple calf injuries that sidelined him for extended stretches of the campaign. Shortly after Milwaukee’s season ended without the Bucks making the playoffs, Doc Rivers stepped down as head coach, and the team eventually hired former Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins in late April.

Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, and leaves Milwaukee as one of the franchise greats in his 13 seasons with the team.

Antetokounmpo departs as the Bucks’ all-time leader in points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484), blocks (1,088), triple-doubles (56), games played (895), field goals (7,898) and field goal attempts (14,266).

He delivered an NBA championship to Milwaukee in 2021, after he carried the Bucks past the Phoenix Suns in six games. Antetokounmpo had maintained that he wanted to continue to compete for championships and had become frustrated with Milwaukee’s recent performance.

The Bucks finished the season 32-50, which ranked them 11th in the Eastern Conference, well below the top contending teams.

With their additions of Herro, Ware, Jaquez and Jakučionis, Milwaukee now has a young core of lower-cost players to build around. The Bucks also stashed up on significant draft capital, which will allow the team to be aggressive in adding young talent in the coming years, especially considering the recent reform to the NBA draft lottery.

The Bucks faced an uncertain future with Antetokounmpo set to enter the final season of his contract in 2026-27. Antetokounmpo does have a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28, but Milwaukee faced the prospect of losing Antetokounmpo without recouping any assets, given that he and his representatives had indicated to Bucks management that he was not planning on signing a long-term extension with the franchise.

Giannis Antetokounmpo trade details

• Heat receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis (via TPE)
• Bucks receive: Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., 2026 first-round pick (No. 13 overall), 2031 unprotected first-round pick, 2033 unprotected first-round pick, 2030 first-round pick swap, 2033 second-round pick.

Miami Heat roster

The Heat's updated depth chart after trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis:

• Davion Mitchell
• Norman Powell (UFA)
• Andrew Wiggins (must exercise 2026-27 player option by Monday, June 29)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Bam Adebayo
• Reserves: Bobby Portis, Dru Smith, Simone Fontecchio (UFA), Myron Gardner, Vladislav Goldin, Keshad Johnson (RFA), Nikola Jović, Trevor Keels (RFA), Pelle Larsson, Jahmir Young.

UFA: unrestricted free agentRFA: restricted free agent

Giannis Antetokounmpo contract details

Giannis is owed $58.5 million in 2026-27 and has a $62.8 million player option for the 2027-28 campaign. He will be eligible to sign an extension with Miami on Jan. 6. 

Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam 'a driving force' in taking Miami's offer

According to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, Bucks owner Jimmy Haslam didn't want to risk Jaylen Brown wanting out of Milwaukee. In that regard, Miami's deal provided more certainty for the Bucks' owner.

Giannis Antetokounmpo 2025-26 stats

Though he played just 36 games because of various injuries, Antetokounmpo averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game this past season for Milwaukee. The Greek Freak shot a career-best 62.4% from the field, and his 34.4 points per 36 minutes ranked first in the NBA.

Heat cap space following Giannis trade

According to NBA salary cap analyst Yossi Gozlan, Miami is now hard-capped at the first apron. Assuming Andrew Wiggins opts in, the Heat will have $18.3 million in first apron cap space to fill out their roster. 

What happens to Thanasis Antetokounmpo?

Thanasis is a free agent and will be eligible to sign with any team. Miami would seem like a logical destination after trading for his brother.

How old is Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Giannis is 31 years old. He turns 32 on Dec. 6.

Giannis trade grades

Read the full breakdown from USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes.

• Milwaukee Bucks — The draft capital is where this deal can really pay dividends for Milwaukee. Now, the Bucks just need to hit on those picks. Grade: A-
• Miami Heat — The Heat were never going to compete with the roster they had. Miami needs to add shooting, but it now has the defensive ability to compete with the conference’s best teams. Grade: B+
• Boston Celtics — The Celtics don’t like to have their business or their intentions aired out in the open like this. And, ultimately, failing to land Antetokounmpo goes down as a failure. Grade: D

Will Bucks trade Tyler Herro?

According to The Athletic, Milwaukee is evaluating its options with Herro, including keeping him or rerouting him to another team.

What Giannis Antetokounmpo trade means for Bucks

Our Kristie Ackert broke down what the blockbuster trade means for Milwaukee. You can read that here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis Antetokounmpo goes to Heat in league-shaking blockbuster trade

The Lakers never really got involved in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes this summer, but there were just enough murmurs on the fringes of the deal that could have included the purple and gold.

For now, though, it’s a straight two-team trade that will send Giannis to Miami for about everything notable they have, including Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and three first round picks.

BLOCKBUSTER: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading franchise icon Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, 3 first-round picks (including No. 13), 1 pick swap and 1 second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/NQT5ZhdJU9

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2026

While it’s only a two-team trade right now, the deal won’t be executed until the league’s moratorium ends on July 6, leaving open the possibility of other teams getting involved.

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

It’s not directly clear how the Lakers could get involved. Ware would fill a need at the center position, but there are some concerns given how much he fell out of favor with Erik Spoelstra in Miami.

Herro is likely to be rerouted with all sorts of signs pointing to Detroit. Perhaps the Lakers could get involved with that aspect and land something from Pistons, but nothing jumps out. Perhaps an Isaiah Stewart deal could materialize, but he’d have to mend fences with LeBron James after trying to repeatedly fight him.

For now, Los Angeles gets to sit by and watch all this unfold. At least they didn’t pull a Boston Celtics and dangle their star player in a trade that the Bucks didn’t ultimately except, likely burning the brigde between the two parties and forcing you to now pull off a different trade.

Could you imagine?

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