ESPN's Brian Windhorst couldn't have said it any clearer. On an ESPN hit this morning, Windy said that Giannis Antetokounmpo has been "focused" on wanting to play for the Miami Heat, and that trade talks all around have intensified over the last 7-10 days.
What this all means remains to be seen. In fairness, Windy did note the talks with the Boston Celtics, but did also describe the potential barriers that come with such a deal, and the likley concerns that the Celtics may have.
Even though on the surface trading for Giannis seems like a no-brainer deal, the philosophical and schematic changes that it would bring to Boston don't make it the easy move that perhaps some believe it should be.
That, among potential other factors, is one of the bigger reasons why the Heat are still slightly considered the favorites at this point. It also doesn't hurt that, at least to a certain extent, it does feel as if Giannis may have finally put his thumb on the scale to push his way to Miami.
Has Giannis put his thumb on the scale in favor of Miami?
This is just reading between the comments here, but it does sound that way. Could we all be wrong? Absolutely. However, maybe there is more that is happening behind the scenes between Giannis and the Bucks that meets the eye.
It can't be stressed enough that if this is indeed what's happening, this is a huge development. Because if Giannis is making it clear that he wants to be traded to Miami, he can help expedite this process. It also gives the Heat slightly more leverage in their discussions with the Bucks.
And maybe that's part of why the smoke around Boston has grown over the last week; it could be that Milwaukee is trying to regain some of that leverage.
That's not a certainty, but it could begin to make sense if this is indeed what's taking place behind the scenes.
Either way, even if Giannis is trying to push the scale towards Miami's direction a bit, the onus is still on the Heat's front office to get it done.
Giannis can only do so much to help the Heat behind the scenes. It's on the Heat to find a middle ground with the Bucks' front office. And, at least for now, as Windy also noted, there's some work to be done on that front.
The bottom line is this: If Giannis has begun to try and push the scale in Miami's direction, that will spell only good news for the Heat. It's time to get it done.
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