At this point, it's almost impossible to predict how the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade saga is going to play out, or how (or if) the Miami Heat will factor in it when it's all over.
However, one thing is becoming rather clear. It's that even if the Heat had any leverage in trade talks with the Milwaukee Bucks, they're slowly losing it. With how much smoke there is with the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic, the Heat don't have any other option than to go all-in with their offers for Giannis.
And that still may not be enough.
But because of those repercussions, it could mean that the Heat are now likely to lose Pelle Larsson if they're able to pull the trigger on a Giannis deal. Larsson is a player whom, up until a few days ago, many believed that the Heat could hold out on a deal.
Now that may no longer be the case.
Pelle Larsson may have to be included in a Giannis trade
Larsson has not just emerged as a favorite within the fan base, but he's also been singled out as a potentially important piece of a post-Giannis trade build for the Heat.
Larsson may not be on a superstar track, but he's certainly a player who could play a valuable role on a contender. The versatile wing is one of those types of players that every championship player needs on their roster, and the unique talent that often gets overlooked.
If this is the way things are currently playing out for the Heat, it would be quite inconvenient.
I can't imagine Larsson is the type of player, despite how valuable he could be in a vacuum, that would hold up a Giannis trade for the Heat, but parting ways with him would certainly make a post-Giannis build on the fly much more difficult for Miami to pull off.
If the Heat have to give up every last non-Bam Adebayo asset in a Giannis trade, Miami should absolutely do it. However, it would be quite unfortunate considering there was a belief that the Heat were going to be able to keep an asset or two out of a potential deal.
Had you asked every Heat fan which logical piece they would've liked to hold on to in a Giannis deal, the vast majority likely would've answered with Larsson.
But, again, the Heat may slowly (but surely) lose that leverage. Especially as it becomes more and more clear that they're going to need to put every last asset on the table to have even a shot to beat out the other offers rumored to be out there for Milwaukee.
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