Why the Miami Heat and Giannis Antetokounmpo are perfect for each other

The Miami Heat will have the space to go “whale” hunting again next summer. Can they land the Moby Dick of that particular free-agent class?

In the coming seasons, Miami Heat team president Pat Riley has set the franchise up to be players in any big-name free agent conversation. There are a few that qualify there to choose from.

Also next summer, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks will be an unrestricted free agent and will have the luxury of choosing any team he wants to play for. In case you haven’t put the pieces to the puzzle together yet, that team should be the Miami Heat.

Antetokounmpo is a representation of exactly what the Heat Culture is. He has a gym rat personality, which is something that Miami wants in their players.

The culture that Miami has created isn’t just for anybody though and by watching Antetokounmpo play, it’s pretty clear that he fits the culture’s model. The Greek Freak has worked extremely hard to make it to the place that he has in his career and if I’m him, I would want my team to have that same work ethic.

I mean, that’s the only way that he seems to know how to go about things based on all we know and have seen. Doesn’t this sound like somebody else that the Miami Heat acquired this past offseason though?

Ah, yes, it does. Oddly enough, it also sounds like a guy they drafted just a few short years ago as well. Here’s a hint, his moods have been all the rage lately.

Jimmy Bulter and Bam Adebayo would be great running mates to pair with Antetokounmpo, which means that it doesn’t hurt that Antetokounmpo and Adebayo share the same agent. Just imagining these three on the court together is a scary sight and most especially on the defensive side of the ball.

The Miami Heat would literally just swarm teams with their length, high motors, athleticism, and aggression. What a nightmare it would be for the opposing teams to run pick and rolls while Miami switches everything

Can’t you imagine the defender having to deal with Antetokounmpo guarding him and expecting relief as he lays off, just to have another menace in Adebayo jump in front of him? As an offensive player, that sounds awful. As a Miami Heat fan though, that sounds like nirvana.

Offensively, I am banking on Adebayo to get a consistent jumper within 2 years, or to at least become quite a bit more aggressive in looking to take it. With the way that Adebayo trains in the offseason, it is a very likely scenario.

Bulter has the ball in his hands a lot, but isn’t a high usage player and has shown to be a willing passer. He actually seems to prefer getting his guys going first before he starts attacking.

With Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro being young snipers, Miami could generate floor spacing for anyone, but especially enough for Adebayo, Bulter, and Antetokounmpo to attack the rim at will.

Another key for Antetokounmpo coming down to Miami would be both coach Erik Spoelstra and team president Pat Riley, just like when LeBron James came to Miami. James, at that point in his career, needed structure and an organization that actually knew what they were doing.

This isn’t to say that Milwaukee is a bad organization and perhaps is saying that about Cleveland, but in either situation, they aren’t as good as the Miami Heat and what they have going on down there in South Beach.

Having said that though, Milwaukee hasn’t won anything yet with Antetokounmpo and the clock is ticking for Milwaukee to win a championship. If not, then Antetokounmpo could leave.

Who’s going to go to Milwaukee to play with him? Just like James, Antetokounmpo will be putting pressure on his organization to win at all costs.

If I’m Antetokounmpo, I look at what Spoelstra did with James In the post area. Getting James in the post area is, to this day, one of the most underrated things that coach Spoelstra has ever done.

It took LeBron’s game to another level but was something he was reluctant to do in Cleveland. Like James was prior to his Miami tenure, Antetokounmpo isn’t as dominant in the post as he should be and Coach Spoelstra could help take Antetokounmpo to that next level.

I know that may seem crazy, but Spoelstra could help to take Antetokounmpo’s game to unseen places and one of unseen proportions. Next summer is going to be a summer big for the NBA and Antetokounmpo but most importantly here, the Miami Heat.

They will have cap space and the 2021 free agency class will be loaded with stars. Hopefully, the Miami Heat can hit the jackpot by signing The Freak.