Miami Heat: Is Khris Middelton a more realistic option than the Greek Freak?

There’s no doubt the Miami Heat have their eyes on Giannis Antetoounmpo, but do they have their eyes on the wrong Milwaukee Buck?

Every great operation has both a Plan A and Plan B, especially Pat Riley’s Miami Heat. Right now, it seems that 2018-2019 MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is their top target for the 2021 offseason.

But could both the top fits for this Heat team play for the same team?

Shooting guard Khris Middleton has firmly established himself as one of the best number twos in the NBA this season. He’s posting 21.1 points per game on a damn near 50/40/90 shooting split. And the path to acquiring him may prove more facile.

The Greek Freak will be a free agent in 2021, while his running mate will be under contract through the 2023-2024 season where he’ll have a player option for $40 million.

In the not so distant future, that price tag will likely prove somewhat of a bargain for Middleton, who won’t even be 33 years old yet. This is often considered the middle of a player’s prime.

We know the Miami Heat aren’t afraid to trade assets and or draft compensation if it will enhance their chance at a championship. They’ve been linked to guys like Bradley Beal and Chris Paul already, both of whom would require a trade to bring them to South Beach.

Almost all of the Miami youth core has been mentioned in trade rumors over the last ten to twelve months, once Jimmy Butler first touched down in Florida. Yes, we know Heat fans; you do not want to trade Robinson or Herro for any of the aforementioned guards.

But don’t think for one second that Antetokounmpo won’t pull the ultimate masterclass move in performing a sign-and-trade if he were to leave Milwaukee. They’re the team that took a chance and drafted him in 2013, and part of why he’s MVP-caliber today.

That being said, small forward Duncan Robinson does do a lot of things that Beal does already. But Milwaukee’s Middleton is more than just a marksman from deep.

The two-time All-Star and former second-round pick is able to shoot efficiently while simultaneously shouldering his weight on the defensive end. Neither Beal or Robinson aren’t necessarily known for over executing on that side of the floor.

That along with this shooting would make him and ideal fit next to Butler and Adebayo. The two have gone a combined 30-of-130 shots from behind the arc. Adding a 40 percent shooter in Middleton shooter would truly make this “Big 3” whole in every sense.

Would Milwaukee ever consider dealing the guy they just signed to a five-year extension for nearly $180 million? Maybe, and then again, maybe not. One thing is certain however.

As they move forward prepared to sign Antetokounmpo to a super max extension, they’ll have to start looking around and determining who and which positions are expendable. Getting Robinson and/or Tyler Herro in return for Middleton saves you a lot of money for a couple years.

They could also look to move point guard Eric Bledsoe, but we’ll touch on that later.

When the Miami Heat canvas the league in search for their third All-Star, Pat Riley and the front office should inquire about plucking Khris Middleton out of Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo will always be the top choice, but his wing man would make for a nice fit in South Beach.