There's at least a small chance that the Miami Heat could give Giannis Antetokounmpo the gift of a lifetime before he even plays a minute for the franchise.
Of course, that would need LeBron James to play ball. More specifically, the Heat would need LeBron to choose to play in Miami this season. Not only would that give Giannis a more than capable third option in his first year in Miami, but it would also help him partner up with a player he greatly admires.
During a recent livestream, Giannis admitted that LeBron is the player he most likes to watch. If he likes to watch LeBron, imagine the opportunity it would be to play alongside him. He's also never shied away from his praise of LeBron in the past.
Would LeBron James join Giannis Antetokounmpo in Miami?
The Heat could give Giannis that opportunity before he even dons a Heat jersey on opening night. But, again, that is a lot easier said than done. Because if that were to happen, it would almost certainly consist of LeBron bypassing a return to Cleveland to play in Miami.
As much sense as it makes from a basketball perspective, the lure of a return to the Cavs for his final season or two could end up being too much for LeBron (and his team) to pass up. But, at the same time, at least from a winning standpoint, so could Miami and Giannis.
If LeBron is seriously open to the idea of playing for a team that isn't Cleveland, the Heat (perhaps among other options) should be pulling hard in his mind. And as much as playing with LeBron would be a dream for Giannis (or seemingly so), that'd have to work both ways with how great of an arc that Giannis is on himself.
Ultimately, the Heat can't control what LeBron may end up pursuing or what he (and his camp) may be thinking. However, you have to credit Miami for, at the very least, putting themselves in a position to make such a move this early in the Giannis era.
At least in part, Giannis decided it was time to leave Milwaukee because he wanted to put himself in an opportunity where a championship-contending team could be built around him. He hasn't even played a minute for the Heat franchise and, even with limited resources, they're proving they have the ability to do just that.
Even if Giannis were still in Milwaukee, LeBron wouldn't even be giving the Bucks a thought. But, in Miami, that's an entirely different story.
If the dominos continue to fall their way, the Heat could end up giving Giannis a gift he couldn't have even envisioned before even playing a minute for the franchise. That alone may already make his decision to leave Milwaukee worth it.
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