As the suitors for Giannis Antetokounmpo begin to emerge, you can't help but begin to like the chances for the Miami Heat to actually pull off a trade for the superstar forward. If things continue to trend in this direction, there's reason to believe that the Heat's long-time obsession with trading for Giannis could end up paying off.
Even though Giannis is still technically not on the trade block, the Heat are looking more and more like a viable landing spot for him. Especially now that, according to NBA insider Marc Stein, it appears the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder aren't interested in making an all-in move for Giannis, the Heat may actually have a shot.
If you take away the Spurs and the Thunder, and take into consideration that the Atlanta Hawks, at least for now, may not have interest in trading Jalen Johnson or the extremely valuable unprotected first-round pick from New Orleans, things could be lining up for the Heat to make a serious run at Giannis.
The Giannis sweepstakes could come down to the Heat and Knicks
Miami would still have to find a way to make a competitive offer for Giannis, but there's certainly a path developing from the Heat making a move that, for the past few years, was considered unthinkable and absolutely inconceivable.
At this point, there's reason to believe that if Giannis does push for a trade at some point in the next couple of months, or even if he waits until the offseason, that it could come down to the New York Knicks and the Heat.
It's no surprise that Giannis has an affinity for the Knicks, but there has also been consistent smoke surrounding the idea that he would be open to a trade to the Heat as well.
If there's one thing Miami may have over New York, it's the idea that they have more tradable assets. Miami could seemingly get to a point where they'd have the draft capital that the Bucks would be looking for in a deal, and a plethora of young talent that would make sense in a deal.
The Knicks have the salary needed to match a big deal, but not much else.
That's the one thing that the Heat has working for them, if they can find a path toward acquiring another first-round pick or two.
But that's a conversation that would be had down the road.
The bottom line is that the Heat's chances of pulling off a move for Giannis are much less laughable than they were a few months ago. And as this possibility gets more and more real, it'd be absolutely foolish to discount Miami.