Whenever an NBA team makes a trade for a superstar, the asking price in return is never easy to give up. That's the sacrifice required, and when the Miami Heat traded for Milwaukee Bucks champion Giannis Antetokounmpo, there was a sacrifice they could not avoid, and it cut deep.
This was the first time in a long time that the Heat had to part ways with a crop of young talent in the manner they did to complete the trade for Antetokounmpo. The last time they pulled this sort of trigger was in 2004, trading away Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, and Brian Grant for Shaquille O'Neal. Then again, in 2019, giving up Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside for Jimmy Butler.
Neither of those trades resembles the latest one simply because of the youth and potential element; the Heat gave up significant young talent and depth. Whether the sacrifice pays off will be under review for the next two to three years. What the Heat let go of to get Antetokounmpo wasn't small by any means, nor was it easy, according to team president Pat Riley.Â
Miami Heat's Pat Riley admits the struggle of giving up Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Kel'el Ware
Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Kasparas Jakucionis were the three young players who went the other way in the trade with Milwaukee, plus Tyler Herro, who is a veteran. Jakucionis had just finished his rookie season and played well throughout, but the losses of Ware and Jaquez are more significant, given their year-over-year improvements and ceilings.
The Heat will never experience just how high Ware and Jaquez will reach, and that's simply part of the business. Still, there is emotion behind these types of trades, and Riley admitted after Antetokounmpo's introductory press conference this week that giving up what he did was not easy. Still, Riley stood firm in his decision-making and reiterated his confidence that Antetokounmpo was worth the price.
"We gave up a significant price. He’s worth it. Period. That’s how I look at it. Those are 3 very good young players. One has a lot of experience, but the other three are very good young players with huge upside. We don’t have to figure out what this [Antetokounmpo] player's upside is. He may not even have maxed out yet," Riley said.
Riley's biggest gamble is not just Antetokounmpo the player, who has dealt with a slew of injuries over the past few years, but the hope that the Greek Freak hasn't maxed out yet. Riley and the rest of the Heat organization are banking on this; that is the real gamble. The only way Antetokounmpo can avoid maxing out is through health and availability.Â
Staying on the floor (putting aside winning a championship for now) will help make this trade worth it. Otherwise, the Heat will be dealing with the same problem they went through with Herro over the past few seasons. Of course, if the Heat land another big name like LeBron James, trading for Antetokounmpo would move them closer to a positive payoff.Â
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