The Miami Heat will try to do what they can to bring Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Florida this summer, but they'll have to take down some competition first. There is one team in particular that could do them a favor by declining to enter the sweepstakes, and that could happen if they advance to the conference finals. I'm talking about Cleveland.
As Jake Fischer of The Stein Line speculated in his latest piece on Thursday, Cleveland could rejoin the Antetokounmpo trade mix this offseason (subscription required). The Cavaliers were one of the teams to reach out to the Bucks before the deadline, and the front office could do so again this summer, regardless, but especially if their season ends in the second round once again.
Since trading for Donovan Mitchell in 2022, Cleveland has failed to reach the ECF, coming up far short of its championship expectations. It took seven games for the Cavaliers to make it past the Raptors in the first round in this year's playoffs, and they're currently down 1-0 to the Pistons in the second round.
Another early playoff exit could push Cavs to Giannis Antetokounmpo
Like Antetokounmpo, Mitchell will be eligible to sign an extension with Cleveland, but in July, not October. Whether he will is another question. It could depend on how the next few weeks play out.
If the Cavaliers' season does end in the second round, they could convince Mitchell to hang around (if he decides he wants to leave) by going all-in on Antetokounmpo.
Even if that's how things play out, it doesn't mean Miami's chances of getting Antetokounmpo will drop to zero. If Cleveland is willing to give up Evan Mobley (and it would probably have no choice), the Bucks could automatically be more drawn to the Cavaliers' offer, even if the Heat put everything on the table.
The playoffs certainly aren't as exciting without the Heat. In case you needed a reason to be a little more interested in what's going on, here it is. It won't hurt to turn into a temporary Cleveland fan. No, that doesn't mean you should want the Cavaliers to win it all, but if they can at least make it to the ECF, that might be enough for Mitchell to sign an extension (if he is on the fence). Hey, even the NBA Finals.
As thrilling as it'd be to have Giannis in Miami, the process that comes with waiting is painful. The good news is that Jimmy Haslam, Milwaukee's co-owner, said he hopes to have Antetokounmpo's situation resolved in time for the draft next month. Let's hope he tells the Bucks he won't sign an extension when he becomes available, prompting a trade to the Heat.
Miami is a far better place to live than Cleveland, anyway.
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