The Miami Heat could send a strong message to Giannis Antetokounmpo (and the rest of the league) by being sellers at the NBA Trade Deadline. The message would simply be: We're coming to get you.
Hitting the eject button on this season and selling a couple of their veteran assets wouldn't be a popular move or one that the Heat have generally made in the past, but if they're serious about an all-out pursuit of Giannis during the offseason, this is certainly something that needs to happen.
If Miami fully expects Giannis to hit the trade block during the offseason, they need to start preparing for it. Flipping Andrew Wiggins, Norman Powell, and/or Jaime Jaquez Jr. for a collection of first-round picks could be a great way to do so.
Why selling at the trade deadline could put the Heat in the lead for Giannis
Again, it may not be the popular move, but it's certainly one that will give them the best shot at Giannis during the offseason. If Miami has any hopes of winning a potential bidding war for the superstar forward, they're going to need every possible draft pick at their disposal.
Even in a best-case scenario, the Heat are likely only going to have four tradable first-round picks for Giannis. Should they add one or two picks at this year's deadline, that number grows to five or six.
The difference in that extra pick or two could ultimately be what stands in the way of the Heat landing Giannis. Plus, let's not act like there are other reasons why it may be prudent for the Heat to explore the trade market for Wiggins and Powell.
As much as they've been a fit on the team, there's no guarantee that they're going to re-sign in Miami. Both have the option to test the free agency waters this summer.
Jaquez Jr. has one more year left on his contract before he can hit restricted free agency, so there's a bit more flexibility there. But it's still an interesting possibility to explore, especially as the Heat have failed to capitalize on trading players at their peak.
It's, at the very least, a conversation the front office needs to have leading up to the deadline.
The trade deadline will reveal a lot about the Heat
At the end of the day, if the Heat is genuinely all-in on prying Giannis away from the Milwaukee Bucks, the only way they can show their seriousness in a potential pursuit is by embracing a sell-now approach at the deadline.
With this bold approach, the Heat could separate themselves as the true leaders in the clubhouse for Giannis. But if they refuse to wave the white flag now, it proves they're simply not that serious (or confident) in their ability to land Giannis during the offseason.
Either way, the Heat's approach to the trade deadline is going reveal a lot about this front office and, perhaps most of all, the direction of this franchise.