If Miami Heat fans didn't feel a ton of urgency in their pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, they may change their perspective now. Especially considering it's been reported that Trae Young could be on the Heat's radar as a potential backup plan if they miss out on Giannis.
Sure, Kawhi Leonard and Ja Morant were also mentioned as possibilities in the article by NBA insider Jake Fischer, but the inclusion of Young just goes to show how much the Heat's front office would be left scrambling if they couldn't close the deal for Giannis.
If nothing else, it just proves how important Miami's pursuit of Giannis is over this next week.
Because if the Heat can't close on Giannis, it points to a bleak immediate future for this franchise. It'd be difficult for the Heat to pivot in a way that would leave fans satisfied.
The emotional drop from Giannis to Young is enormous
In a vacuum, Young is not a bad potential trade target. It makes sense to some extent, especially at this point in his career, when his trade value is probably at an all-time low, and the fact that he's going to have a big chip on his shoulder, wherever he plays, next season.
In theory, there is a path toward the fan base selling themselves on the idea of taking a flier on Young, even if it is just for one season.
However, at the same time, going from Giannis to Young would be difficult for the fans to buy into.
This has less to do with Young than it does with Giannis. Going from pursuing one of the three best players in the world to a low-risk, high-reward flier on a player who has often been compared to Tyler Herro would be a nightmare that not even the worst Heat fans deserve.
Is there a scenario in which Young ends up being a great player for the Heat? Sure, especially considering he'd be a great 1-2 offensive punch next to Bam Adebayo, and could certainly make life a lot easier for a developing Kel'el Ware.
The Heat need Giannis
At the same time, Young is not Giannis. And, at this point, any move that the Heat makes that isn't Giannis is going to feel at least somewhat underwhelming. Let's be honest, no matter what the Heat ends up doing the rest of this offseason, if they miss out on Giannis, this summer is going to feel like a disappointment.
That's why there's so much on the line for the Heat with Giannis.
They need to find a way to close the deal and get this done. Not only because it's a move that would reinvigorate the franchise and the fan base, but also because the alternatives are just so depressing.
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