It's early in the process, but the Miami Heat are looking good in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. In fact, they're in an even more favorable spot than many realize.
Because they're looking at more than just a golden opportunity to land Pat Riley's preferred (and notably absent) superstar. Beyond the external boost of elite NBA talent, they can also use a megatrade to solve some of their biggest internal puzzles.
The Heat could land their missing superstar and simplify their long-term outlook at the same time.
While it's unclear exactly how much Miami would have to cough up for Antetokounmpo, the basic framework for a trade involves Tyler Herro, Kel'el Ware, and a couple of first-round picks. More will almost certainly be needed to get a deal across the finish line, but those might be the primary pieces involved.
And the Heat should be over the moon about the possibility.
Because while Herro might be their most recent All-Star and Ware their most prized prospect, neither feels fully locked into their long-term core. Herro needs a new contract between now and the 2027 offseason, and that will be tremendously tricky to price given his obvious offensive ability but major defensive deficiencies. Ware, meanwhile, is struggling to summon the consistent effort and impact needed to crack Erik Spoelstra's circle of trust.
If Miami went without a major move for the foreseeable future, these two players might be pillars of the organization. Given their clear and concerning flaws, though, the franchise could be left with all the stability of a house of cards.
This is the perfect escape plan for the Heat. They reel in Riley's long-coveted whale and instantly relieve two of their biggest headaches. That's a win-win deal without even knowing how the remaining pieces all fit.
And since Spoelstra is the one calling the shots, it feels safe to assume he'd solve the puzzle for maximum competitiveness. Between the weakened nature of the Eastern Conference and Miami's fully loaded supporting cast, that just might mean immediate contention.
Bam Adebayo is an excellent co-star, and his increased comfort (and competence) from three would make him a cleaner fit alongside Antetokounmpo. Norman Powell and Andrew Wiggins are both reliable wings with championship experience. Between Davion Mitchell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis, the Heat should be covered on the playmaking front, too.
This is, honestly and objectively speaking, an absolute dream development for Miami. If the Heat find a way to answer opportunity's knock, there's a non-zero chance they find their way to championship round already this season—and a less stressful future beyond it.