The Miami Heat have one year to prove that Giannis Antetokounmpo made the right decision to be traded.
That's because, technically speaking, Giannis has the opportunity to test free agency if he wants to after this upcoming season. First things first, let's not get it twisted. Especially considering agents were involved throughout his trade process, you'd have to assume there was a great deal of backchanneling involved in getting Giannis to Miami.
The Heat shouldn't be worried...for now
Even if that will never officially be admitted, there had to have been some sort of handshake agreement between Giannis' camp and the Heat before a trade was struck with the Milwaukee Bucks.
And the overwhelming belief is that Giannis is going to sign a lucrative contract extension with the Heat, one way or another. However, if there are any unexpected bumps during his first year in Miami, this is certainly one storyline to keep a close eye on.
Of course, considering that the Heat haven't even finalized their first-year roster around Giannis, this type of speculation is 100 percent premature. We don't even know what the Heat's opening night lineup is going to look like around Giannis, let alone have seen him play a minute in a Heat uniform.
But it'd also be somewhat disingenuous to suggest that there isn't at least some concern in the back of Heat fans' minds. Especially considering that this first year is probably the worst off this roster is going to be around Giannis.
Giannis could be described as somewhat unpredictable?
The hope is that Giannis is willing to trust the process of building out a championship roster around him, but that's far from a guarantee. Mind you, Giannis doesn't owe the Heat anything. He doesn't owe them loyalty, patience, or any amount of years.
Giannis made the move to Miami to win a championship, if not multiple. Much like LeBron James' pivot to Miami back in 2010, Giannis' decision to embrace a trade to the Heat is all business.
And if there comes a point where Giannis feels the Heat are not keeping their end of the deal, he could just decide he's ready to make another change or head back home. That kind of feels like what's eventually going to happen, whether it's soon or not, with the way he's been speaking of late.
It's unlikely to happen after the first year, but there's still a non-zero chance that it could. That should give the Heat even more incentive to try and make things right immediately for Giannis.
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