If a Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat trade does end up happening, there's an argument to be made that this is a move that has been years in the making.
That's because, according to a recent report from Jake Fischer, the Heat and Giannis have been flirting with this very scenario since 2020.
“Miami has been a spot that’s been on his radar that I know definitively from various sources who are familiar with Giannis, that he’s been looking at the Heat dating back to 2020…. The Heat have been on Giannis’ radar for the better part of this decade now”
This makes the Heat's Giannis approach much more understandable
If it isn't clear now, there's some very strong interest on both sides. Whether that will eventually amount to a deal getting done remains to be seen. But the interest is certainly there.
And maybe this is why the Heat have been so consistent with their pursuit of Giannis. After missing out on Giannis at this past year's NBA Trade Deadline, the Heat decided to take the PR hit of sitting on their hands. Instead of making another move that could've helped the team make a stronger playoff push or sell off some of their veteran pieces, the Heat did nothing.
It was, understandably, criticized by much of the fan base and was downright confusing at the time.
Because, at least from the outside looking in, the Heat's chances at Giannis looked bleak. But, agian, maybe the Heat were operating with more inside information than they were leading on.
And this report could very much support that.
The Heat need to close on Giannis Antetokounmpo
While this saga seems far from over, it does seem as if the Heat has a really good chance of finally landing its next superstar. They'll have to outbid a few other teams, but they clearly have the motivation to get something done.
It also seems as if Giannis would embrace such an opportunity.
This might be what the Heat have been banking on this whole time. When the national media were criticizing and when the fan base was doubting, the Heat may have seen a path that no one else could.
Looking back, it may have completely revolved around the idea that both the Heat and Giannis have been flirting with each other for the past few years. Crazy enough, it could finally be coming to a head this summer.
If the Heat pull this off, they're certainly the ones who will get the last laugh. And considering how much fortitude they've had on this journey, they'll deserve every bit of praise coming their way.
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