The biggest indication that the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks may be close to the 1-year line, if not already there, on a potential blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade might have been revealed by a recent rumor.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, there is a sense that Milwaukee is operating as if it will enter the 2026 NBA Draft with the No. 13 pick. It's no coincidence that the Heat currently, as of now, hold that selection ahead of next week's draft.
"League sources say that Milwaukee has very much been carrying itself like a franchise in recent days that expects to have the No. 13 selection as well as its own No. 10 pick. The Bucks, of course, can only make a selection at No. 13 if they acquire that pick from Miami as part of an Antetokounmpo trade."
Up to now, there's an argument to be made that it could very well be the biggest indicator that the two sides are either working toward a deal or there is a growing belief that it will eventually get done before the NBA Draft.
Can the Heat and Bucks finally find a middle ground?
Of course, as nothing has been throughout this Giannis saga, it's never that simple. And there's no guarantee that the Heat and Bucks will find a fair middle ground before the NBA Draft, or even at all.
While everyone may be echoing the same thing, that the Heat are considered the frontrunners for now, that doesn't mean that can't or won't change over the next few days. But if the Heat are a favorite to land Giannis, wouldn't you expect that they want to put the finishing touches on a deal now that the official start to the offseason is so close?
In fact, that arguemnt could be made for both the Heat and Bucks.
At this point, with the draft next week and the start of free agency not far out after that, both the Bucks and Heat should be scrambling to get a deal done. If Milwaukee truly believes that the end of the Giannis era has finally arrived, they lose more and more leverage with every day that passes.
No team has real leverage here
Even though, especially from the outside, it may seem as if a team like the Heat has leverage on its side, let's not forget how desperate it is (and should be). If Miami misses out on Giannis, there's really no other significant way they could pivot.
There have been names thrown out like Kawhi Leonard and Ja Morant, but is the Heat really going to meet the asking price for any of those players? That seems unlikely, especially after Miami has been building up toward this Giannis pursuit.
In theory, both the Heat and Bucks are on the clock to get something done.
But if these rumblings from Fischer are indeed true, then they very well may be close to finally getting to an agreement. Until that Shams bomb hits, though, nothing is guaranteed on the Giannis front.
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