Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 13-year reign with the Milwaukee Bucks is over.
The Bucks agreed to trade Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to the Miami Heat for Tyler Herro, Kel’el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kasparas Jakucionis, three first-round picks, one pick swap, and one second-rounder, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Miami is reportedly sending the No. 13 overall pick in this year’s draft, unprotected first-round selections in 2031 and 2033, a pick swap in 2030, and a second-rounder in 2033.
The blockbuster deal doesn’t currently include additional teams, but the two sides can expand the trade before it’s officially executed on July 6, adds Charania.
The Boston Celtics were apparently the other finalist in the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. The Celtics’ reported trade package to the Bucks was centered around 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and two first-round picks, according to Charania.
Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP, was open to signing a contract extension with the Heat, Celtics, or Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told Prime Video’s Chris Haynes.
Antetokounmpo is set to earn $58.5 million next season and holds a $62.8-million player option for 2027-28. The Greek Freak will be eligible to sign a four-year, $275-million extension if he opts out, or a three-year, $214-million deal if exercises the player option, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Antetokounmpo leaves Milwaukee after a season that firmly thrust his future with the franchise into doubt.
Antetokounmpo missed the final 15 games with a left knee injury that caused a divide between him and the organization. The Bucks wanted to shut the 31-year-old down, but Antetokounmpo insisted he was healthy and characterized the decision to keep him out as “a slap in (the) face.” The NBA investigated Antetokounmpo’s injury status and determined that no further action was required.
Antetokounmpo was also reportedly upset that the team waived Damian Lillard ahead of the season to stretch the remaining $113 million on his contract in order to sign Myles Turner in free agency.
Trade rumors first linked the 10-time All-Star to the New York Knicks, and he attracted interest from multiple teams at the deadline, but he publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the Bucks after the trade deadline passed and again at All-Star Weekend.
The Bucks went 32-50 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16. Co-owner Jimmy Haslam said in May that “before the draft is a natural time” to determine whether or not Antetokounmpo would leave Milwaukee.
Antetokounmpo led the Bucks to an NBA title in 2021, earning Finals MVP honors in the process. He collected seven All-NBA first-team selections and two second-team nods in 13 seasons. He also made four appearances on the league’s All-Defensive first team and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.
He leaves the Bucks as the organization’s all-time leader in points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484), blocks (1,088), and triple-doubles (56). Antetokounmpo is also the franchise’s all-time leader in games played (895) and minutes (29,273).
Milwaukee selected Antetokounmpo with the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft from Greek side Filathlitikos.
