To say that Giannis Antetokounmpo is a difference-maker would be a massive understatement. And if the Miami Heat were to pull off a move for him before the trade deadline, he'd instantly make the team a championship contender.
Especially if it was built around this one specific proposed trade from Bleacher Report. In this deal, the Heat would acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo and Thanasis Antetokounmpo in exchange for Tyler Herro, Simone Fontecchio, Nikola Jovic, Kel'el Ware, two first-round picks, and a pick swap.
With this deal, the Heat would arguably emerge as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
If this is all it took for the Heat to add Giannis to the roster, they'd be perfectly aligned to make a big move up the East standings, and perhaps even have enough to make a run at a championship this season. Of course, that's assuming Giannis can remain relatively healthy for the remainder of the season.
The Heat would be the favorites in the East with Giannis
After this deal, the Heat would have a supporting cast around Giannis that would include Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell, Davion Mitchell, Pelle Larsson, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Andrew Wiggins.
There's still a chance that the Heat would have to trade Wiggins for additional draft capital to get a Giannis deal across the finish line, but this would still be an excellent deal for Miami. It would also put them in a great spot heading into the final stretch run before the postseason.
Even though it would be a difficult ask, you'd have to imagine that Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra would be able to figure it out on the fly. If there's any coach in the league that would be able to handle that type of pressure, it's the best one in the league.
The high stakes race for Giannis
These are the high stakes attached to a Giannis trade. Whichever team emerges from the deadline with him (assuming he's traded before February 5), their ceiling for this season completely shifts on a dime.
Whether it's the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, or the Heat, each one of those teams' outlooks completely changes with one stroke of the pen.
Those teams go from respectable playoff contenders to championship favorites overnight. The argument could be made that the Knicks already have those types of expectations flowing out of that locker room, but that is hyped up even more if Giannis is acquired.
It's impossible to predict how the Giannis saga will end (or if it will at the deadline), but there's no question that if the Heat acquire him, and with something close to this proposed trade package, they're going to emerge as instant championship contenders.